Would you recognize the signs of stroke?

Every 45 seconds someone in the United States suffers a stroke. According to the American Heart Association stroke is the third largest cause of death, ranking behind heart disease and all forms of cancer.

When someone is having a stroke seconds matter because within minutes brain cells can begin to die. So the question is, would you be able to check to see if a loved one is having a stroke and call for help?

According to the National Stroke Association, individuals can check to see if a loved one is experiencing stroke-like symptoms using the pneumonic device of acting FAST:

Face. Ask the person to smile to see if there is muscle weakness in their face.

Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms to see if there is muscle weakness.

Speech. Ask the person to repeat a sentence and listen for slurred words or if they can finish the sentence.

Time. If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Look at the clock and remember what time the symptoms started. Share the time symptoms start with a physician as that will impact treatment options.

Other signs that someone might be having a stroke are if he or she experiences sudden confusion or have a severe headache, sudden numbness or weakness of the face, difficulty walking or trouble speaking.

For more information, visit stroke.org or americanheart.org.