Key Stroke Statistics

Strokes are far more common—and more preventable—than most people realize.

• Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke.

• Nearly 800,000 people experience a stroke each year.

• 1 in 4 survivors will have another stroke within five years.

• Strokes are the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S.

Recognizing symptoms early is critical. The FAST acronym remains the simplest lifesaving tool:

• Face drooping

• Arm weakness

• Speech difficulty

• Time to call 911

This acronym is important to remember as it has saved many lives. These may not be the only symptoms so it's important to acknowledge that. I was asleep and never woke during my second stroke so these symptoms weren’t very helpful, which made the process went through everything but fast.

I jokingly talk about the fact there wasn’t anything FAST about the process with my second stroke. it seemed like the nurses and paramedics didn’t know what to look for and the fact that I had a stroke previously made my chances of having another greater. This should have been the first thing they looked and took into account.

I get that I may not of been exhibiting the symptoms directly but it doesn’t feel like anyone checked anyway.

I wonder if this attributes to the high mortality rate in Arkansas? Would better awareness and training for first responders help?