Quick summary

According to the American Heart Association, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds. But there's good news: Even if you or someone you know suffers a stroke, immediate treatment can greatly reduce the damage. For many strokes, treatment with intravenous clot-busting drugs can make a significant difference. The catch? These drugs need to be administered within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. And the sooner treatment starts, the better the outcome.

To give someone the best possible chance of recovery, you should familiarize yourself with the warning signs of stroke. Remember that not all strokes are the same. Even if a friend or someone in your family has had a stroke before, a second stroke or a stroke in another family member might not have the same symptoms.

What to do if someone shows signs of having a stroke

It's common for someone having a stroke to try to downplay the situation because he's embarrassed and doesn't want to cause a scene for no reason. Take charge and call for help even if he tries to talk you out of it. Don't wait to see if his symptoms go away -- and call even if his symptoms suddenly disappear. He may be having a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or ministroke, which is itself a warning sign that a full-blown stroke may be on the horizon.

If you notice one or more of the following stroke signs, call 911 right away. Make a note of the exact time when symptoms began; this information can be extremely helpful for the emergency room personnel.