During a stroke, every minute counts. Fast treatment can lessen the brain
damage a stroke causes.
**The stroke treatments that work best are only available if the stroke is
recognised and diagnosed within 3 hours of the first symptoms.** A patient who
does not reach hospital in time may not be eligible for them at all.
B.E. F.A.S.T.
| What to do | ||
|---|---|---|
| B | Balance loss | Ask whether they feel off-balance or dizzy |
| E | Eye (vision) changes | Ask whether they are having trouble seeing normally |
| F | Face | Ask them to smile. Does one side droop? |
| A | Arms | Ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift downward? |
| S | Speech | Ask them to repeat a simple phrase. Is it slurred or strange? |
| T | Time | If you see any of these signs, call 9-1-1 right away |
The two added letters are worth noticing: **B and E are questions, not
observations.** Face droop, arm drift and slurred speech are visible to a
bystander; balance and vision are not. Someone can be having a stroke, look
fine, and know that the room is tilting or that they cannot see properly — and
nobody will find out unless they are asked.
That is why the two extra letters come first.
The full list of signs
- **Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or lack of
coordination** - Sudden trouble seeing
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one
side of the body - Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Every one begins with sudden. Call 9-1-1 right away if you or someone
else has any of them.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
许可协议： CC0 1.0（公有领域） · 改编自 www.cdc.gov
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