Right now, as you read this sentence, someone in India is having a stroke.
India records a brain stroke every 20 seconds… That's nearly 20 lakh new cases each year. According to the Indian Stroke Association's 2025 'Brain Stroke—Time to Act' campaign, 99% of these patients won't receive the treatment that could save their brain.
Not because the treatment doesn't exist.
But because nobody around them recognized the stroke symptoms in time.
Stroke is a medical emergency, and its early recognition can save someone from lifelong disability.
How to Identify a Stroke? The BE FAST method.
BE FAST is a simple six-letter acronym that helps you quickly identify stroke symptoms and take action without delay.
- B- BALANCE
Watch for sudden loss of balance or coordination.
If someone who was walking normally suddenly can’t maintain their balance. Take it seriously.
What to do?
Ask them to stand still or walk a few steps. If they struggle. It’s time to act!
- E- EYES
Watch for sudden vision problems in one or both eyes.
Blurred vision, double vision, or sudden vision loss in one or both eyes. They might say, "Everything went dark" or "I'm seeing double."
What to do?
Ask them to describe what they see. Cover one eye at a time to check if the problem persists. Even if vision "fixes itself" after a few moments, call emergency services immediately. Temporary vision problems can signal an impending major stroke.
- F – FACE
Watch for one side of the face to droop or feel numb.
This is one of the most recognizable stroke symptoms.
What to do?
Ask them to smile. Is the smile uneven? Does one side of their face not move? An asymmetrical smile is a clear stroke warning sign
- A – ARMS
Watch for weakness or numbness in one arm or leg, typically on one side of the body.
What to do?
Have them raise both arms and hold them up for 10 seconds. If one arm drifts downward or can't be raised at all, this indicates a brain stroke. The same applies to legs; check for one-sided weakness.
- S – SPEECH
Watch for slurred speech, difficulty getting words out, using wrong words without realizing it, or trouble understanding what you're saying.
What to do?
Ask them to repeat a simple sentence: "The sky is blue." If they can't repeat it clearly or their words are jumbled, it's a stroke emergency.
- T – TIME
This is the most critical letter of all.
If you notice even ONE warning sign above, call 108 or 102 immediately. Do not wait. Do not "see if it gets better." Do not drive the person to the hospital yourself.
Why emergency services? Ambulances can provide immediate care en route and alert the hospital's stroke team before arrival. At Aster CMI Hospital, our 24/7 Neuro and Stroke Unit can then prepare for rapid intervention the moment you arrive.
Why Every Second Counts: The Stroke Treatment “Golden Hour.”
During a brain stroke, approximately 1.9 million neurons die every minute when blood flow is blocked. Stroke treatments like IV thrombolysis work best within 4.5 hours, the "golden hour" window.
Some advanced interventions remain effective up to 24 hours, but earlier treatment dramatically improves outcomes.
At Aster CMI Hospital's stroke emergency unit, we see patients arriving hours too late, with families saying, "We didn't identify it as a stroke" or "We never knew about the golden hour for stroke treatment." By then, millions of brain cells have died.
In India, where stroke is the fourth leading cause of death, only 1% of eligible patients receive timely IV thrombolysis. Recognition delay is the biggest barrier to treatment.
When you call emergency services immediately upon noticing BE FAST symptoms, you give medical teams the best chance to preserve brain function, prevent disability, and save lives.
Best Stroke Hospital in Bangalore:
Why Choose Aster CMI
When a stroke strikes, every second matters, and so does where you receive care.
At Aster CMI Hospital Bangalore, our dedicated 24/7 Neuro and Stroke Unit ensures specialist neurologists and neuro-interventionalists are physically present round-the-clock, ready to deliver immediate expert intervention the moment you arrive.
Time saved is brain saved. Our on-site advanced imaging technology CT, MRI, and CT angiography, enables rapid diagnosis without delays or transfers.
We provide comprehensive stroke treatment under one roof: IV thrombolysis within the critical golden hour, mechanical thrombectomy in our advanced catheterization lab, emergency neurosurgery when needed, and specialized Neuro-ICU care
While only 1% of eligible patients in India receive timely thrombolysis, Aster CMI's streamlined protocols place you in that life-saving 1%.
Final Takeaway
Now you know how to recognize it. You know how to respond. You know that acting fast can save a brain and protect a future.
You are now part of the 1% who can make a difference.
The next time you see someone stumble, struggle with words, or complain of sudden vision changes, you won't dismiss it. You won't wait. You'll think BE FAST, and you'll act.
At Aster CMI Hospital, we're ready 24/7 to provide the expert care stroke patients need. But we're counting on you to get them to us in time.
