One of the greatest causes of major disability and loss of independence is stroke, which is caused by a clot blocking a blood vessel to the brain, or by the leaking of blood from a burst blood vessel into the brain.

In both cases, the affected area does not receive oxygen, and the brain tissue dies.

Depending on the part of the brain that’s involved, a stroke can impair your senses, speech, memory, thought processes or ability to move. Knowing the symptoms is vital to minimize the impact of a stroke.

The most well known symptoms include a sudden onset of numbness or weakness on one side of the body or face, trouble talking, loss of vision, or coordination and balance problems. For women in particular, symptoms may include confusion, disorientation or a loss of consciousness.

If your gut feeling or symptoms tell you it’s a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately, making note of the time that the first symptoms appeared.

A clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke, but it must be administered within three hours of the onset of symptoms.

tPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke, and immediate medical attention can make a real difference in the long-term impact.