(Bethesda, MD, Monday, May 1, 2023) – In the U-S, more than 800-thousand people suffer from strokes each year. The  “Know Stroke, Know the Signs, Act in Time” campaign led by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at NIH aims to educate the public about the symptoms of stroke and the importance of getting to the hospital quickly. Vascular Neurologist Dr. Clinton Wright has more.

CLINTON WRIGHT: Seconds are critical when someone is having a stroke. It’s important to know the signs. Number one: Numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. Number two: Confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding speech. Number three: trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Number four: trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination. And number five: severe headache with no known cause.

ANNOUNCER: Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65 and the risk of having a stroke more than doubles each decade after the age of 55. But people of all ages can have a stroke, even children.

CLINTON WRIGHT: Black and Hispanic Americans are also at a higher risk of stroke and should take extra care if they notice symptoms.

ANNOUNCER: To learn more about how to look out for a stroke, visit Stroke dot N-I-H dot gov.