Strokes affect approximately 850,000 people a year, which means one in every 400 Americans will experience this type of potentially life-changing medical emergency. Strokes are the leading cause of acquired physical disability in adults in the U.S., and the fourth-leading cause of death. For this reason, there is no better time than now to spread awareness about the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke.

A stroke can be caused by ischemia, which is lack of blood flow commonly due to a clot, or a hemorrhage from burst or bleeding blood vessels in or around the brain.

Scott Silliman, MD, medical director of the UF Health Comprehensive Stroke Program, discusses what you need to know, including the importance of early action.

“Time is crucial when it comes to strokes, and the longer a patient goes without medical attention, the more damage can be done to the brain,” Silliman said.

Typically, there are six signs of a stroke, and they are best remembered by the acronym BE FAST:

B – Balance
Is the person suddenly having trouble with balance or coordination?

E – Eyes
Is the person experiencing suddenly blurred or double vision, or a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes without pain?

F – Face Drooping
Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.

A- Arm Weakness
Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S – Speech Difficulty
Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like, “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

It’s important to know that not all people experience the same symptoms. Atypical symptoms include the following:

• Sudden and explosive severe headache
• Sudden numbness in the face or arms described as zero feeling, not tingling

Although anyone can have a stroke at any age, certain factors may increase the chances of having this neurological event. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from a stroke is to understand your risk and how to control it. Some risk factors for stroke can be changed or managed, while others cannot.

Risk factors for stroke that can be changed, treated or medically managed:

• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol use
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol and lipids
• High red blood cell count
• Obesity Sickle cell disease
• Smoking

Risk factors for stroke that cannot be changed:

• Age— For each decade of life after age 55, the chance of having a stroke doubles.
• Race— African Americans are at the highest risk for death and disability from a stroke.
• Gender— Stroke occurs more often in men, but more women die from stroke.
• History of prior stroke— Patients with a history of stroke are at a higher risk for having additional strokes.
• Heredity or genetics— The chance of stroke is greater in people with a family history of stroke.

Strokes are more common among people living in the southeastern U.S. than in other areas.
The region is commonly referred to as the “Stroke Belt” and includes Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and North Florida. Because of differences in lifestyle, race, smoking habits and diet, stroke mortality is at least 10% above the national rate.