Don't wait. Don't wait. Don't wait. And by the way, don't wait

Words to live by - in stroke care, at any rate - from a recent USA Today article about a recent stroke study:

"Don't wait," said Dr. Larry Goldstein, director of Duke University's stroke center and a spokesman for the American Stroke Association. "If you think you are having symptoms, call 911."

Symptoms to watch out for, from the National Stroke Association's F-A-S-T description:

F = Face
• Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A = Arms
• Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = Speech
• Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can the person repeat the sentence correctly?

T = Time
• If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.