According to recent American Heart Association statistics...

stroke is the second-leading cause of death in the world and a leading cause of adult disability. It kills about 133,000 Americans every year, and occurs in the U.S. about once every 40 seconds.

The American Heart Association encourages everyone to learn how to recognize the warning signs of strokes. Their F.A.S.T stroke campaign makes the sudden signs and symptoms easy to remember:

Face Drooping — Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile and check if their smile is lopsided or uneven.

Arm Weakness — Is one arm numb or weak? Ask the person to raise their arms to check if one side drifts downward or have them squeeze your hands to see if each side has equal strength.

Speech Difficulty — Is the person hard to understand, slurring their words or unable to speak? Ask them to repeat a simple phrase.

Time to Call 911 — If you can see any of these signs, you should call 911 for immediate medical attention and get that person to a hospital immediately — even if the symptoms go away. Tell medical staff they are showing signs of a stroke and what time you began to see the signs.