Be Fast. Campaign against cerebral stroke

You already know that staying in shape is

one of the best ways to keep your body healthy.

But did you know that goes for your brain too?

The healthier you are, the less likely you

are to have a stroke.

Contrary to popular belief, strokes don't

just happen to the elderly.

They could occur in just about any of us,

although some of us are more susceptible than others.

So, who is more susceptible?

Well, it really all comes down to risk factors.

Now some risk factors are just a part of life

they are part of what makes you you,

and you can't do anything about them.

We're talking about:

Your age

Your gender

Good ol' family history

Untreated heart disease or atrial fibrillation

(that's irregular heartbeat for those of us

without a medical degree).

But there are plenty of risk factor that

you do have some control over by making healthier

choices... 

I'm sure you know most of these

already, humour me, I'll promise to make it quick.

(Takes a deep breath)

Stop smoking

Moderate alcohol consumption.

Control your blood pressure.

Lower and manage your cholesterol.

Stay physically active.

Improve your diet.

Control your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes...

Right, so now we understand who's at risk,

but equally important is learning the signs

of stroke so you can take action immediately!

BE FAST

Want me to use that as an acronym you ask?

We're on it

B = Balance: Is there a sudden loss of balance?

E = Eyes: Is there a sudden loss in vision in one or both eyes?

F = Face: Does the person's face look uneven?

A = Arm: Does on arm drift down? Ask the person to raise both arms.

S = Speech: Does their speech sound strange? Ask them to repeat a phrase.

T = Time: There you go!

You knew this one was coming didn't you?

Every second brain cells die during a stroke. TIME is BRAIN!

So what do you do at first sign of someone having a stroke?

You dial 911!

There is no time to waste!

So remember, at first signs of a stroke...

BE FAST