Experts recommend remembering the acronym “BEFAST” to recognize stroke symptoms quickly:
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- B (Balance) – Difficulty maintaining balance or loss of coordination.
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- E (Eyesight) – Vision changes such as blurriness, loss of vision, or double vision.
- F (Face) – Facial changes, such as one side of the face drooping or an asymmetrical smile.
- A (Arm) – Weakness or numbness in one arm.
- S (Speech) – Speech difficulties, such as slurred or incoherent speech.
- T (Time) – Act immediately and seek medical help if any symptoms appear.
Dr. Joshua Willey, a stroke neurology specialist at Columbia University (USA), noted that “T” could also stand for “terrible headache” – a sudden and severe headache.
All three experts emphasized that if any of these symptoms appear, even briefly, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Dr. Willey stated:
“Typically, a transient ischemic attack lasts no more than 5 to 10 minutes and certainly under an hour. However, BEFAST symptoms may last only 30 to 60 seconds.”
For this reason, do not hesitate even for a minute if you experience arm weakness or sudden blurred vision.
