Odds are you know someone who has had a stroke, whether or not the signs are easily visible. Perhaps one side of the face or body droops or has lost muscle function. Speech may be slurred. Memory - short-term, long-term or both - is noticeably faulty or unreliable, or mental acuity is limited. These are just some of many possible effects, ranging from mildly limiting physical function, to radically transforming a life. At worst, strokes can turn a sharp, active person into a dependent child. They can also kill.

That's strong incentive to take care of yourself. May is Stroke (and high blood pressure) Awareness Month. Stroke symptoms vary by individual, but know these basics - even one can indicate a stroke:

* Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body.

* Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

* Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes.

* Sudden trouble walking; dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

* Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

* For women, sudden limb pain, nausea, weakness, shortness of breath, or chest pain may also occur.

Symptoms and damage happen quickly. If in doubt, try the tests below, but act fast. Delaying a trip to the ER by mere minutes can drastically alter the extent of permanent damage and life changes.

Remember the F-A-S-T test:

Face. Ask for a smile. Does one side of the face drop?

Arms. Tell him or her to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?

Speech. Ask the person to repeat a short phrase. Is speech slurred or strange when the phrase is repeated? When my mother's stroke first came on, she said she felt dizzy and she sounded "drunk." She never drinks.

Time. If even one of these answers is "yes," call 9-1-1 immediately.

Risk factors for both genders include family history, high blood pressure or cholesterol, smoking, alcohol, diabetes, circulation, being overweight, and lack of exercise. Women who suffer migraines, especially migraines with aura as recent research suggests, are at far greater risk. Males and those older than 55 have a higher risk, but strokes can happen to both genders at any age.

There is good news: As much as 80 percent of strokes are preventable.

When they affect cognitive function, as they often do, strokes can suck a life dry; what remains may be light-years from the life envisioned. That's a big motivator to take care of the body. At 40-something and with family history, I watch the scale and diet more carefully, keep blood pressure down with breathing exercises and meditation, and drag myself to the gym, despite hating exercise and loving those bad carbs.

Each day is a gift; make the most of it. For more information see Stroke.org.

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at sholeh@cdapress.com.