KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) May is recognized as National Stroke Month. The American Heart Association reminds stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of adult long-term disability.
Time is of the essence in recognizing symptoms and getting treatment because two million brain cells die during every minute of a stroke.
Use the F.A.S.T. method to recognize a stroke when you see it happening.
F -- FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A -- ARMS Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S -- SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T -- TIME If you observe any of these signs (independently or together), call 9-1-1immediately.
Risk factors can be medical like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Strokes can also be caused by lifestyle risks like smoking and drinking too much alcohol.