"Give Me 5" stroke awareness campaign launched

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Actress Morgan Fairchild has teamed up with the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Stroke Association to launch a new campaign designed to raise awareness about the early warning signs of stroke and the critical importance of early treatment.

"With stroke, every minute counts," said Fairchild, who cared for her mother who suffered a series of debilitating strokes until her death in 1999.

Recognizing that you or someone you are with is having a stroke as soon as symptoms appear can "make the difference between life and death," added Dr. Ralph Sacco, member of the American Academy of Neurology.

Yet research has shown that most people remain largely unaware of the warning signs of an impending stroke and the need for seek immediate medical attention, even if stroke symptoms subside.

The stroke awareness campaign focuses on getting people to remember the catch phase "Give Me 5: Walk, Talk, Reach, See, Feel," which offers a quick check list of signs of stroke:

* Walk - Is their balance off?

* Talk - Is their speech slurred or face droopy?

* Reach - Is one side weak or numb?

* See - Is their vision all or partly lost?