By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

May is Stroke Awareness Month, and educators are reaching out to teach people how they can recognize, respond to and recover from strokes.

Angela Stiner, stroke coordinator for OSF Saint James – John W. Albrecht Medical Center and OSF Saint Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, explains that 88 percent of all strokes are preventable and identifying individual risk factors and discussing them with your doctor are the best ways to decrease risks. Recognizing warning signs of a stroke is also important.

“To help remember the warning signs of stroke, there’s an acronym to use called FAST. FAST is an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke. If you spot sudden face drooping, arm weakness or speech difficulty, it is time to call 9-1-1,” Stiner said.

Stiner was a guest on a recent Community Forum, which is available in the podcast section at WJEZ.com.