Most women don't know female-specific stroke signs

COLUMBUS, OHIO (WPVI) -- Stroke is the third leading killer of women, but a new survey shows that women still think of it as a man's disease.

The survey of one-thousand women shows most don't know the basic signs - and even fewer know symptoms specific to women.

Dr. Diane Greene-Chandos, a neurologist at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, led the survey project.

"Women may have more headaches with their stroke," she says.

"They can actually have hiccups with a little bit of chest pain with their stroke symptoms," she continued.

Dizziness that's not classic vertigo is another symptom for some women.

When those signs are ignored, women lose precious time for treatment.

But it's easy to remember the symptoms with the word FAST.

F - for face drooping.

A - for arm numbness.

S - for any speech difficulties

T - for time to call 9-1-1. Don't Delay.

Take at simple pen-and-paper test to assess your risk for stroke by going to Prevent Stroke