How do you recognise a stroke and act fast?
A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, causing brain cells to die within minutes. Recognising the warning signs immediately and reaching emergency care within the first hour — the golden hour — significantly improves the chance of recovery. The FAST acronym (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services) is the most widely used tool for rapid identification.
Lilavati International in Mumbai operates a dedicated stroke unit with 24/7 emergency neurology response, on-site CT and MRI, and thrombolysis capability, enabling rapid diagnosis and treatment from the moment a patient arrives.
Tip: Every minute without treatment, approximately 1.9 million neurons are lost. Acting on the first symptom — not waiting to see if it passes — is the single most important step a bystander can take.
What are the FAST signs of a stroke?
FAST is a clinically validated mnemonic used by emergency services worldwide to identify the most common stroke symptoms. A newer version, BE-FAST, adds two earlier warning signs.
| Letter | Sign | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| B | Balance | Sudden loss of balance or coordination |
| E | Eyes | Sudden vision loss or double vision in one or both eyes |
| F | Face | One side of the face drooping; uneven smile when asked to smile |
| A | Arms | One arm drifts downward when both are raised |
| S | Speech | Slurred, garbled, or absent speech; inability to repeat a simple sentence |
| T | Time | Call emergency services immediately — note the time symptoms began |
If any single sign is present, treat it as a stroke emergency. Do not wait for multiple signs to appear.
What are the warning signs that may appear days or weeks before a stroke?
Some strokes are preceded by a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) — sometimes called a mini-stroke — or by subtle symptoms that are easy to dismiss. Recognising these early signals can allow intervention before a full stroke occurs.
Symptoms that may appear one month to one week before a stroke:
- Brief episodes of numbness or weakness on one side of the body that resolve on their own
- Sudden, temporary confusion or difficulty understanding speech
- Fleeting vision disturbances in one eye (described as a curtain falling across the field of view)
- Unexplained, severe headache with no known cause
- Sudden dizziness or loss of coordination that passes quickly
- Unusual fatigue, especially in women, that is disproportionate to activity level
Early signs of stroke in women may also include hiccups, nausea, general weakness, and chest pain — symptoms that differ from the classic FAST presentation and are sometimes attributed to other causes.
Early signs of stroke in men more commonly follow the classic FAST pattern, though sudden severe headache and vision changes are also frequently reported.
Warning: A TIA is a medical emergency, not a minor event. Symptoms that resolve within minutes still require immediate evaluation. Up to 10–15% of people who experience a TIA go on to have a full stroke within 3 months, with the highest risk in the first 48 hours.
How long is the golden hour for stroke treatment, and why does it matter?
The stroke golden hour refers to the window — ideally within 60 minutes of symptom onset — during which emergency treatment is most effective. For ischaemic strokes (caused by a blood clot), the clot-dissolving drug tPA (thrombolysis) can be administered up to 4.5 hours after symptom onset in eligible patients, but outcomes are substantially better the earlier it is given.
The treatment timeline for an ischaemic stroke looks like this:
- 0–60 minutes: Symptom onset to hospital arrival — call emergency services immediately, note the exact time symptoms began.
- Within 25 minutes of arrival: CT scan to confirm stroke type and rule out bleeding.
- Within 60 minutes of arrival (door-to-needle): Thrombolysis administered if the patient is eligible.
- Up to 24 hours: Mechanical thrombectomy (clot removal) may be considered in selected cases.
For haemorrhagic strokes (caused by bleeding in the brain), rapid imaging and neurosurgical assessment are the priority. The principle remains the same: every minute of delay increases the extent of brain injury.
What is the difference between a stroke and a TIA?
A TIA (transient ischaemic attack) and a stroke share the same underlying mechanism — interrupted blood flow to the brain — but differ in duration and permanent damage.
| Feature | TIA (Mini-Stroke) | Stroke |
|---|---|---|
| Duration of symptoms | Minutes to less than 24 hours | Persists beyond 24 hours or causes permanent deficit |
| Brain tissue damage | Typically none on imaging | Visible infarct or bleed on CT/MRI |
| Symptoms | Identical to stroke but resolve fully | May leave lasting weakness, speech, or cognitive deficits |
| Emergency response needed? | Yes — immediately | Yes — immediately |
Because a TIA cannot be distinguished from a stroke in the first minutes, both require the same emergency response. Never assume that resolving symptoms mean the danger has passed.
When should you seek emergency care for stroke symptoms?
Seek emergency care immediately — not after waiting to see if symptoms improve — if any of the following are present:
- Any single FAST or BE-FAST sign, even if it lasts only a few minutes
- Sudden severe headache described as the worst headache of your life
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Sudden inability to walk, loss of balance, or unexplained fall
- Confusion or inability to understand speech that comes on without warning
- Numbness or weakness on one side of the face, arm, or leg
Do not drive yourself to hospital. Call the Lilavati International ambulance service at +91 97692 50010 or +91 75063 58779, or the nearest emergency number. Inform the dispatcher that you suspect a stroke so the receiving team can prepare.
If you have experienced a TIA that has fully resolved, seek evaluation within the same day — do not wait for a scheduled outpatient appointment.
How does Lilavati International in Mumbai support stroke patients?
Lilavati International in Bandra West, Mumbai provides dedicated neurology and stroke unit care as part of its quaternary-care emergency infrastructure. The hospital's emergency department operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no appointment required.
Key capabilities relevant to stroke care include:
- Dedicated stroke unit with round-the-clock specialist neurology response
- On-site CT scan and MRI available immediately from the emergency department
- Thrombolysis (clot-dissolving therapy) for eligible ischaemic stroke patients
- Cardiac catheterisation laboratory and specialist cardiology support for stroke patients with cardiac causes
- Advanced critical-care units including ICU, ICCU, and SICU for post-stroke monitoring
- Full diagnostic laboratory and blood bank on-site
- International patient-care support
The hospital holds Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation and NABH Hospital Accreditation, reflecting its adherence to international clinical standards.
Lilavati International is located at A-791, Bandra Reclamation Road, Bandra West, Mumbai – 400050. The emergency department is on the ground floor, adjacent to MRI.
Contact Lilavati International for Stroke Emergency or Neurology Consultation
Use the booking form on this page, or reach out directly:
Emergency / General: 022 69318050
Ambulance: +91 97692 50010 / +91 75063 58779
WhatsApp: 022 69318050