A Chattanooga man credits quick action with saving his life during a stroke

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – According to the CDC, more than 600,000 Americans will suffer a stroke for the first time this year.

But doctors say recognizing stroke symptoms and acting quickly could save a life.

Jim Johnson of Chattanooga was able to do just that for himself.

“When I woke up, my arm felt really numb and I thought, 'Maybe it's just because I was sleeping.' Then I tried to stand up and realized that my left leg wasn't doing so well either. And then I realized it was essentially the left side of my body.”

For 67-year-old Jim Johnson, it all started with an early wake-up call at 6 a.m

“I knew the signs. I said, 'I think I'm having a stroke.'”

It ends with a life-changing day.

Johnson said he knew that numbness on one side of the body was a sign of a stroke. So he sought help immediately and within 30 minutes

“They immediately ran all sorts of tests.”

After conducting diagnostic tests, Johnson's doctors determined that he had suffered a stroke in the form of a brain hemorrhage. That means a blood vessel had burst and caused a bleed in the brain.

“I've heard from doctors and nurses that knowing what it was and acting immediately instead of waiting another 15 minutes or so could have made the difference between getting out of there in four days or some other way.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, anyone at any age can have a stroke.

The good news? Most strokes can be prevented, and there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of a stroke.

Sonya Beckman, senior physical therapist at Encompass Health, says…

“We actually placed a lot of emphasis on the acronym be FAST.”

FAST, or “face drooping,” “arm weakness,” “speech difficulty,” and “time to call 911,” is the acronym doctors use to recognize stroke warning signs.

“The quicker you get to the hospital, the quicker you will have access to life-saving medications and treatments,” Beckman says.

The quicker a stroke is treated, the more likely the patient is to recover, according to the American Heart Association.

They add that every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke.

“Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in America and is also a major contributor to long-term disability. It affects about 800,000 people every year,” says Beckman.

Emphasize how important taking care of your body physically and mentally can be, regardless of age.

“The loss of the function of a limb, the loss of the ability to communicate with a loved one, the loss of the ability to chew and swallow the foods you enjoy, sometimes even from the slightest impact, can have a major impact on you have life.”

It has now been three years since Johnson's stroke.

“Whether it’s a stroke or a heart attack, know the signs, it will save a life.”

Johnson didn't let this accident take away his passion.

“Cycling is, so to speak, the core of my existence. And the physiotherapy also got me back on the bike.”

Since the stroke, Johnson has been traveling around the world. He has gone on bike and boat tours in Croatia, Turkey and Greece and visited families in South Africa.

He even went on hikes so rigorous that, he said, he had to put his hands on a guide's shoulders to stay upright on the trail.

You can find more information about stroke risks and prevention here.