Know the Warning Signs

Call 9-1-1 immediately if these symptoms are present:

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

Stroke risk factors you CAN control include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol which can lead to coronary artery disease and heart attack damaging heart muscle and increasing your risk for stroke
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Heavy use of alcohol
• Illegal use of cocaine and other street drugs

Stroke risk factors you CAN'T control:

• Increasing age. Stroke affects people of all ages. But the older you are, the greater your stroke risk.
• Gender. In most age groups, more men than women have stroke, but more women die from stroke.
• Heredity and race. People whose close blood relations have had a stroke have a higher risk of strokes themselves. African Americans have a higher risk of death and disability from stroke than whites, because they have high blood pressure more often. Hispanic Americans are also at higher risk of stroke.
• Prior stroke. Someone who has had a stroke is at higher risk of having another one.

Learn more about your risk of stroke:

American Heart Association

Take the Learn and Live Quiz. It's free and an easy way to access resources to help you live a longer and stronger life.

American Stroke Association

It's important to know your risk for stroke. Knowing your risk is the key to stroke prevention. Use this form to determine your risk for stroke. This assessment is private and completely confidential -- you don't have to send it to us or to anyone else. It's solely for you to fill out and print and share with your physician, if you choose.