Most people can name the classic signs of a heart attack, but far fewer know how to recognize a stroke. That gap matters. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious long-term disability, and treatment works best when it starts quickly.

Key Points

• A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked by a clot or a blood vessel bursts.
• The F.A.S.T. acronym helps people spot the most common signs.
• Call 911 immediately, even if symptoms go away.
• Controlling blood pressure and other risk factors is the best prevention.

What Happens During a Stroke

Stroke is closely tied to the health of the blood vessels. In an ischemic stroke, the most common type, a clot blocks an artery that supplies the brain. In a hemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. Either way, part of the brain is deprived of oxygen, and brain cells begin to die within minutes.

Remember F.A.S.T.

The American Stroke Association uses the acronym F.A.S.T. to highlight the most common warning signs:

• F — Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or feel numb? Ask the person to smile and check whether it's uneven.
• A — Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms and see whether one drifts down.
• S — Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred or hard to understand? Ask them to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue."
• T — Time to call 911: If any of these signs appear, call 911 right away, even if symptoms seem to improve. Note the time symptoms started; it affects treatment options.

Other Possible Signs

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

Lowering Stroke Risk

High blood pressure is the single biggest controllable risk factor for stroke. Other factors include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, obesity and physical inactivity. Many of these also drive heart disease, so the same healthy habits protect both the heart and the brain.

Because the arteries that supply the heart and brain are affected by the same disease process, imaging that reveals plaque can be a useful signal of overall vascular risk. A coronary calcium scan measures plaque in the heart's arteries, and Advanced Body Scan also offers brain imaging and the more detailed HeartIQ scan. Results should always be reviewed with a physician — and imaging is never a substitute for emergency care when stroke symptoms appear.

The Takeaway

Learn F.A.S.T., share it with your family and don't hesitate to call 911. In a stroke, every minute counts.