Health experts are promoting the B.E. F.A.S.T. recognition method this May during National Stroke Awareness Month to help the public identify strokes quickly.

Rapid identification is critical because stroke treatment is time-sensitive. Every minute that passes without medical intervention can cost a person 1.9 million brain cells [4].

Dr. Cynthia Dickerson of HCA HealthOne is among the professionals advocating for the B.E. F.A.S.T. acronym. The method instructs observers to check for balance loss, eye abnormalities, face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and time to call emergency services [1].

The urgency of these campaigns is underscored by the frequency of the condition. A stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the U.S. [3]. These events are currently the fourth leading cause of death in the United States [1].

Medical professionals said many of these incidents can be avoided through proactive care and lifestyle changes. Approximately 80% of strokes are preventable [1].

National campaigns throughout May aim to bridge the gap between the onset of symptoms and the arrival of emergency care. Because brain cells die rapidly during a blockage or bleed, the window for effective treatment is narrow, making public literacy on the B.E. F.A.S.T. signs a primary goal for health systems this month.

“Every minute without treatment can cost a person 1.9 million brain cells”

The emphasis on the B.E. F.A.S.T. acronym represents a shift toward empowering bystanders to act as first responders. By reducing the time between symptom onset and hospital admission, health systems aim to lower the mortality rate and reduce long-term disability associated with the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.