One out of six people will suffer from a stroke in their lifetime. The attack cuts off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which can kill two million brain cells in just 60 seconds.
But despite this threat, few Americans know how to prevent and treat a stroke.
Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing health editor of FoxNews.com, recently sat down with cardiologist Mark Turco, the chief medical officer at Covidien Vascular Therapies to talk about stroke awareness.
Turco teamed up with the World Stroke Organization and its global "Take 2Tell 2" campaign to encourage people to take two minutes to learn the causes of, warning signs for and treatment for stroke and then take two minutes to tell two people about what youve learned.
This sharing of information is important, as stroke can affect anyone at any age.
Children can have strokes, people under 40 can have strokes, and one in 5 women have strokes, while 1 in 6 men can have strokes, Turco said.
Even though one specific patient group is not at a higher risk, some conditions can increase your chances of a stroke.
The most common risk factors include:
- Alcohol consumption - Diabetes - High blood pressure - Obesity - Sedentary lifestyle - Smoking
Time is crucial when caring for a stroke patient, but many Americans dont know what warning signs to look out for. According to a Covidien-World Stroke Organization survey, about 1 in 5 adults recognize slurred speech, facial or arm numbness and headaches as symptoms.
Read more:
Know the warning signs of stroke