Six Signs of a Stroke: Remembering 'BE FAST' Can Save a Life

Knowing the warning signs of a stroke can save lives and prevent permanent brain damage, according to the American Stroke Association. The association says following the six letters in the acronym BE FAST can help people spot a stroke and act in time.

The importance of that advice has been illustrated by the case of Senator Chris Murphy, the 53-year-old Democrat from Connecticut, who suffered a stroke on Saturday while at his son's hockey game. According to a statement from his staff, Murphy felt numbness in his arm — the "A" for arm weakness in BE FAST. His office says he acted quickly to get care, which is the "T" for time, and that his prognosis is excellent.

The first letter, B, is for balance. Dizziness, trouble walking or a sudden loss of balance are all signs that a stroke may be occurring.

The second letter, E, is for eyes. Watch for trouble with vision: blurred vision, double vision or loss of sight in one eye are important symptoms.

The third letter, F, is for face. Ask the person to smile and check whether their smile is uneven; numbness or drooping on one side of the face is a symptom.

The fourth letter, A, is for arm — the symptom Murphy had. Numbness or weakness in one arm is a sign. Ask the person to raise both arms and see whether one arm drifts down.

The fifth letter, S, is for speech. Trouble talking is another common symptom. Check whether the person can repeat a simple sentence, and whether their speech is slurred or hard to understand.

The sixth and final letter, T, is for time. If you or someone with you is experiencing these symptoms, call emergency services (911 in the United States) as soon as you can. Being seen by medical professionals as soon as possible — being fast — gives people the best shot at survival and full recovery, and is very important for minimizing long-term effects.

A stroke happens when blood flow to or within the brain is interrupted. It can happen when an artery is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Brain tissue deprived of oxygen can be permanently damaged, resulting in long-term disability or death.

Other important symptoms of a stroke are a severe headache, confusion and numbness on one side of the body.

According to the American Heart Association, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than 162,000 people in 2023.