Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability. Four million Americans are living with the effects of stroke.

If you think you or someone near you is having a stroke, call 911 immediately.  Getting to a hospital within 60 minutes makes a huge difference in whether or not a stroke victim lives or dies, or the quality of their life afterwards if they do live.

Stroke symptoms are sudden, but sometimes the victim cannot perceive the problem because strokes injure the brain.  Symptoms are

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg — especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause

If you see someone experience facial paralysis on one side or lose the ability to speak or move an arm or leg on one side, call 911.