BE FAST in recognizing someone is having a stroke

Dr. Tom Devlin with CHI Memorial joins News 12’s Chip Chapman to spread awareness and prevention during National Stroke Awareness Month.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – May is National Stroke Awareness Month and Dr. Tom Devlin with CHI Memorial shared a few tips to recognize when someone is having a stroke.

Chattanooga has the highest incidence of stroke in the U.S. and CHI Memorial has a team specialized in treating stroke victims. The best stroke prevention is seeing a doctor each year to learn about all the possible health factors that could trigger a stroke.

Dr. Tom Devlin reminds audiences of BE FAST to recognize someone having a stroke which stands for:

B- Balance. A sudden onset of balance problems indicates a stroke.

E- Eyes. Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes.

F- Face. Sudden facial weakness.

A- Arm. Sudden arm weakness.

S- Speech. Sudden difficulty in speaking or slurred speech.

T- Time. Two million brain cells are lost for every minute there is a clot in the brain. Call 9-11 immediately before it’s too late.

To learn more about stroke prevention, visit the CHI Memorial website.