BE FAST– time is brain

BE FAST is an acronym developed to help people identify the three most common symptoms of stroke – drooping face, arm weakness, and speech difficulties.^2,5 Other additional signs of stroke include vision changes, headaches, numbness, and problems with balance.⁵ When these symptoms of stroke present themselves, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.^2,5 Data collected in the United Kingdom suggest that people delayed seeking medical attention for stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic.⁶ There was a reduction of 12% during the COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ period in admission to hospital for stroke.⁶ In the context of the act-FAST campaign and the idea that ‘time is brain’, this hesitancy may have led to greater numbers of fatalities from stroke.^4,6

References:

1. University of Arizona Health Sciences. https://heart.arizona.edu/recognizing-stroke-symptoms. Accessed March 2024.

2. ThinkFast.org. https://www.thinkfast.org.uk/; Accessed Jul 2023.

3. Aroor S, Singh R, Goldstein LB. BE-FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time): reducing the proportion of strokes missed using the FAST mnemonic. Stroke 2017; 48 (2): 479–481.

4. Saver JL. Time is brain – quantified. Stroke 2006; 37 (1): 263–266.

5. Heart & Stroke Canada. https://www.heartandstroke.ca/stroke/signs-of-stroke/fast-signs-of-stroke-are-there-other-signs/. Accessed March 2024.

6. UK Government press release. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/relaunch-of-the-act-fast-campaign-to-improve-stroke-outcomes. Accessed March 2024.