 It's one of the deadliest medical emergencies if left untreated. Tonight Clayton Castle takes us through the signs and symptoms of having a stroke. It's a medical emergency that affects nearly 800,000 people in the United States every year, according to the American Stroke Association. It's also the fifth highest cause of death. Despite the statistics, many people are still unaware of the signs and symptoms of stroke. They can remember it in the acronym FAST or FAST. But in terms of FAST, we're looking for facial droop, armor leg weakness, speech difficulty, and that means it's time to call 911. Ascension Health St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd has taken measures recently to educate and inform the community on the common medical episode. We provided stroke education to our community. We had various events throughout the community where we attended. We also had direct mailings so that there was a postcard and there was the flight area magnet attached to it with the FAST acronym. And we also had some radio PSAs on our local radio stations regarding the FAST acronym and for patients to call 911. Doctors here at Ascension Health St. Joseph's Medical Center know a thing or two about stroke because the hospital was recently designated as a primary stroke center. We're able to provide world class stroke care while still being able to keep patients here within our community. And for this patient population that's obviously a big deal that they're not having to travel down to the cities. They're in a more comfortable environment. Their family is able to be with them at bedside but they're still able to get that same level of care. The designation by the Minnesota Department of Health is common among hospitals in metropolitan areas, which makes the designation even more special for the Medical Center in Brainerd. Seeing the primary stroke center certification coming out into the broader community in Minnesota, Brainerd is just a light in the middle of the state for stroke. They've just done a fantastic job and caring for patients there, keeping patients close to home. St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd will continue to hold events throughout the year to educate the general population on the deadly emergency of stroke. Reporting in Brainerd Clayton Castle, Lakeland News. Ways to lower your risk of having a stroke include increased exercise and of course a healthy diet. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.