Did you know that stroke is the No. 5 cause of death — and a leading cause of disability — in the United States?

The older you are, the more likely you are to have a stroke. The chance of having a stroke about doubles every 10 years after age 55. Although stroke is common among older adults, many people younger than 65 years also have strokes.

However, as many as 10% of people in the U.S. who experience a stroke are younger than 45. In fact, about one in seven strokes occur in adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 49.

CDC.gov

Here’s the good news: By learning and sharing the F.A.S.T. warning signs of stroke, you can make the difference between a strong recovery and disability, or even death:

F – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?
Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

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

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

T – Time to Call 9-1-1
If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Think F.A.S.T. and you just might save the life of a loved one from stroke.