National Stroke Awareness Month, observed in May and sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), strives to make Americans aware that they may be able to Save A Life of a person experiencing a stroke. Every Minute Counts!

National Stroke Awareness Month educates people that a person experiencing a stroke can be treated if people act FAST – 80% of strokes can be prevented. FAST is an acronym for things to check in a suspected stroke victim:

• F – Face / Does the face droop on one side when the person smiles?
• A – Arm / After raising both arms, does one of the arms drift downwards?
• S – Speech /After repeating a simple phrase, does the person’s speech sound slurred or strange?
• T – Time / If any or all of the above are observed call 9-1-1 in the U.S. and 999 in the UK – and ask for medical assistance.

National Stroke Awareness Month encourages people to increase their understanding of stroke risk factors by completing the National Stroke Association’s stroke risk scorecard and following up on any concerns. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. It’s also a leading cause of disability. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain can’t get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it starts to die.