(Radio Iowa) – A campaign is underway to teach about the symptoms of a stroke and the importance of acting quickly. Doctor Clinton Wright, with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, says in addition to being potentially deadly, strokes cause more serious long-term disabilities than any other disease. A federal report says someone in the U-S has a stroke every 40 seconds, while every four minutes, someone dies of stroke.

Wright says symptoms are things like numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially when it happens on one side of the body, confusion that happens suddenly, trouble speaking or understanding speech, sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes or trouble seeing, walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination.

Wright says surviving a stroke is possible and damage can be greatly reduced with quick action.