B.E. F.A.S.T.
IF YOU SUSPECT A STROKE KEEP THIS PAGE HANDY IN CASE YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS THESE SIGNS. The faster you get to the Emergency Department during or after a stroke, the better your chances for successful treatment. Use these B.E. F.A.S.T. tips to know what to do in the event of symptoms that indicate a stroke may be occurring. High blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease and obesity are all risk factors. If you have any of these conditions, talk to your doctor and learn how to control them with medication and lifestyle changes.
E
B BALANCE. The person has dizziness or sudden problems with coordination.
EYE. A sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, or double vision, occurs.
A
F FACE Drooping. Ask the person to smile. Is the smile lopsided?
ARM Weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms: Does one arm drift downward?
S
T
SPEECH Difficulty. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is it hard to understand?
TIME to call 911. If any of these symptoms exist, even if they go away, call 911. That’s the fastest and safest way to get to the hospital.
Other signs of stroke include the sudden onset of these symptoms: numbness, trouble walking and severe headache.
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is a New Jersey-designated Primary Stroke Center and is certified as a Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. For more information, call 888.724.7123 or visit www.rwjbh.org/neuroscience.
Healthy Together
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Summer 2020
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