A stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention by calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency room. During a stroke, blood flow to the brain is interrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen and causing them to begin dying within minutes.
Studies show that nearly 1.9 million brain cells die each minute during a stroke — which is why recognizing symptoms quickly and seeking emergency care right away can save a life, including your own or someone else’s.
BE-FAST Method
In 1998, a group of physicians and emergency department personnel in the United Kingdom developed an easy-to-remember acronym and method to quickly recognize stroke symptoms.
Originally known as FAST, it’s recently been updated to BE-FAST to include more symptoms:
B: Balance — loss of coordination or balance
E: Eyes — vision changes
F: Face — drooping on one side of the face
A: Arms — weakness in the arms or legs
S: Speech — cannot speak or understand speech
T: Time — call 911 immediately for stroke emergency room treatment
What to Do When You Suspect a Stroke
If you think you or a loved one may be having a stroke, it’s important to act quickly while remaining calm. The sooner you respond, the better the chances for a positive outcome.
If you believe you need to visit the emergency room for stroke treatment:
• Immediately call 911 as calmly as possible, explain to them your symptoms and situation.
• Make a note of the time when your symptoms first started.
• Lie down or help the person having the stroke lie down, and keep the head slightly elevated to help maintain an airway.
• Find a way to support any limbs that may have become weakened.
• Loosen any restrictive or tight clothing — such as a tie or belt — to help blood flow.
• Stay with the person having a stroke, or have someone stay with you until paramedics arrive.
• Be ready to perform CPR if the person having a stroke stops breathing.
What Not to Do When You Suspect a Stroke
Understanding what to avoid during a stroke is just as critical as knowing what steps to take to protect you or your loved one.
If you suspect a stroke, don’t:
• Drive yourself or your loved one to the hospital — While you may think jumping into the car to get to the emergency room is quicker than waiting for an ambulance, that is not usually the case. Plus, if you’re having a stroke, driving puts you and others around you at risk.
• Fall asleep — Keep yourself or your loved one awake and alert.
• Eat or drink anything — Stroke can affect a person’s ability to swallow.
• Take medications — Taking the wrong medication can make a stroke worse.
Treatment Options for Stroke
Emergency room stroke treatments are determined by the type of stroke you have, the severity of your stroke and your overall health. There are several medications used through neurological care to treat stroke, as well as surgical options depending on your situation.
Prevention and Risk Factors
Thankfully, there are things you can do right now to help prevent you or a loved one from needing emergency room stroke treatment.
Although some stroke risk factors are beyond your control, such as age, gender, and family history, many others can be changed. Addressing these modifiable risk factors now may help prevent a stroke in the future, including:
• Excessive alcohol or illegal drug use
• High blood pressure
• High LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Sleeping issues
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes
There are also some preventative measures you and your loved ones can start today to help prevent a stroke tomorrow, including:
• Adhering to medications to help prevent stroke or manage conditions that are stroke risk factors
• Being more physically active
• Eating a heart-healthy diet, such as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet
• Limiting alcohol use
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Managing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Quitting smoking
• Reducing stress
• Visiting your AdventHealth primary care
physician (PCP) for annual check-ups
AdventHealth for Stroke Care:
Timely Action Saves Lives
When dealing with a suspected stroke, every minute counts for the best possible outcome. Knowing how to “BE-FAST” to recognize stroke symptoms can help prepare you to act quickly and calmly.
To learn more, visit AdventHealthPortCharlotte.com