Moreover, the Global Burden of Disease estimates that there were about 1.29 million incident strokes and 6,99,000 stroke-related deaths in India in 2019, showing how huge the burden is at the national level.
One in four individuals is likely to have a stroke at some point in life, according to global data from the World Health Organisation and the World Stroke Organisation .
Dr Arun Shah, director—neurosciences, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai, in a conversation with HT Lifestyle, explained that a stroke is a medical emergency that can cause permanent disability or death if treatment is delayed. “A brain stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or when a blood vessel within the brain bursts. Thus, without enough oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die within minutes. However, it’s not foolproof. This is where BEFAST comes in, as it broadens the checklist. E – Eyes: Sudden loss of vision, blurred vision, or double vision. F – Face: One side of the face droops when smiling. A – Arm: Sudden weakness or numbness in one arm or one side of the body. S – Speech: Slurred speech, difficulty speaking, or difficulty understanding others. T – Time: Call emergency services immediately. Every minute matters in stroke. Any one of these signs warrants emergency medical attention without any delay, Dr Arun stressed. Meanwhile, Dr Sachin shared o ther warning signs include sudden one-sided numbness, confusion, difficulty understanding language or a severe, unexplained headache.
Dr Sachin highlighted a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in 2022, which found that the pooled sensitivity is around 77%, implying that certain cases of stroke might be missed; therefore, even a negative FAST cannot rule out the possibility of a stroke.
He further highlighted the key causes that increase the risk of stroke in India: Dr Sachin Adukia, senior consultant, neurology, Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai, told HT Lifestyle that FAST is a simple way to recognise common warning signs, where F stands for Face: does one side droop when the person smiles?; A stands for Arms: can both arms be raised equally?; S stands for Speech: is speech slurred or difficult to understand?; T stands for Time: seek emergency medical help immediately if any sign appears. The BEFAST abbreviation stands for: B – Balance: Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or difficulty walking, according to Dr Arun. “Not every such symptom indicates a stroke, but sudden onset demands urgent assessment,” he noted.
“Although this is an estimate rather than a universal countdown, the message is clear: delays can mean lost brain function. Eligible patients may benefit from clot-dissolving medicines or mechanical thrombectomy, depending on the clinical and imaging findings,” Dr Sachin explained. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
If you or a loved one suffers a stroke, it is important to be prepared and these are a few key things to remember: According to Dr Sachin, in a landmark 2006 paper in Stroke, neurologist Jeffrey Saver estimated that an untreated ischaemic stroke (when a blood clot or fatty plaque blocks an artery that carries blood and oxygen to the brain) destroys approximately 1.9 million neurons every minute, according to Dr Sachin.
