Recognizing Stroke/Stroke and Women

Recognizing Stroke
If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of a stroke, time is critical. Call 911.
Use the F-A-S-T acronym to recognize a stroke:
Face: Try to smile. Is one side of the face drooping?
Arms: Try to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
Speech: Try to say or repeat a simple sentence. Are your words slurred? Can you speak correctly?
Time is critical: Call 911.

Stroke and Women

While less than half of stroke victims are women, more women than men die from stroke.
Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer every year.
Studies have shown that women take 46 percent longer than men to get to the emergency room after stroke symptoms occur.
Women do not always experience classic symptoms.