Knowing the signs of a stroke often means the difference between life and death.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month and HuffPost recently shared the five biggest early warning signs of a “mini stroke”…which can lead to a full-blown stroke within 90 days.

Remember the acronym FAST, too:

• F – Facial drooping – Check to see if a section of the face, usually only on one side, is drooping and hard to move or feels numb. Can they smile?
• A – Arm (or leg) weakness – Is one arm weak or numb?  Can they raise both arms (or legs)?
• S – Speech difficulties – Is their speech slurred or are they difficult to understand?
• T – Time to call 911 – If you notice any of these symptoms, time is of the essence. Call 911 immediately!

Strokes can affect all of us at any stage in life…so know the signs!

Get more info on strokes and stroke recovery at the American Stroke Association.