- B (Balance) – Sudden difficulty maintaining balance or coordination.
- E (Eyesight) – Vision problems such as blurriness, double vision, or sudden loss of vision.
- F (Face) – One side of the face drooping or an uneven smile.
- A (Arm) – Weakness or numbness in one arm.
- S (Speech) – Difficulty speaking, slurred words, or trouble understanding speech.
- T (Time) – Act immediately and seek emergency medical care.
Dr. Joshua Willey, a stroke neurology expert at Columbia University, added that “T” could also stand for “terrible headache”—a sudden and intense headache.
All three experts emphasized that even if symptoms are brief, they should not be ignored.
Dr. Willey explained:
“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, any sudden weakness, blurred vision, or difficulty speaking should prompt immediate medical attention.
Managing Stroke Risk Factors
Taking control of stroke risk factors is essential.
Dr. Itrat highlighted that uncontrolled conditions like high cholesterol and high blood sugar significantly increase stroke risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adopting healthier habits, such as increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, improving diet, and taking necessary medications to manage high blood pressure and reduce stroke risk.
