SATURDAY, March 13 (HealthDayNews) -- Stroke: It's the third leading cause of death in the United States, with 700,000 new or recurrent attacks occurring annually. But the death toll wouldn't be that high, doctors say, if people would educate themselves about the warning signs and, when they occur, get themselves or their loved ones medical care as soon as possible. "There are medications that can help dissolve a clot that is causing a stroke," explains Dr. William Buxton, a staff neurologist at the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the clot-busting drug most commonly given. "But the vast majority of drugs can only be used in the first three hours from the last time the patient was known to be well," he adds. Mike in Brazil That means getting to the hospital quickly, because part of that three-hour window will be eaten up by an exam and tests to confirm the patient did indeed suffer a stroke. Getting to the hospital faster hinges on people becoming more aware of what might signal a stroke. Among the common symptoms: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body only; sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding words; sudden vision problems in either one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking or lack of coordination; sudden severe headache for no apparent reason. 8th street latinas When taught these warning signs, the public can make a big difference, some recent studies show. For instance, researchers from the University of Michigan reported late last year in the Archives of Internal Medicine on a community-based program to educate the public about stroke. In five rural Texas counties, they tested a campaign that used news articles, public service announcements, brochures and other means to boost awareness of stroke symptoms and the benefits of rapid treatment