Every year, almost 800,000 Americans have a stroke according to the CDC. That’s one every 40 seconds. May is Stroke Awareness Month, Dr. Mohsen Nouri, Director of Neurovascular Surgery at Jamaica Hospital, joined “News All Day” to review the signs and symptoms, and what you can do to protect yourself.

A stroke occurs when some part of the brain stops functioning appropriately.

The acronym BEFAST is used to help people recognize the symptoms.

Balance: loss of balance or coordination
Eye: lost or blurry vision
Face: facial dropping or numbness
Arms: weakness in arms or hands
Speech: slurred or impaired speech
Timing: Call 911 or seek medical help right away. The faster you get help, the better your outcome.

Dr. Nouri says that age is a factor when it comes to who is at risk. But other risk factors, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, obesity and inactivity, are all things that, if improved, can help prevent strokes.