Which BEFAST component assesses unilateral weakness of arms and/or legs?

Which BEFAST component assesses unilateral weakness of arms and/or legs?

• A. Arms and/or legs
• B. Balance
• C. Eyes
• D. Speech

Answer: (A)

Unilateral limb weakness is most directly assessed by the Arms component of BEFAST. To test it, have the patient extend both arms straight out with palms up and eyes closed briefly, and watch for any drift or inability to hold the position. If one arm drifts downward or cannot be maintained, that indicates weakness on that side, which is a common sign of a stroke affecting the opposite side of the brain. This focus on arm movement makes the Arms check the best fit for detecting unilateral weakness. The other BEFAST elements look for different stroke signs: Balance checks coordination and stability (which may reflect leg or body involvement but isn’t the specific test for unilateral limb weakness), Eyes looks for vision changes, Face checks for facial droop, and Speech looks for slurred or difficult speech. Time remains the cue to activate emergency care.

Unilateral limb weakness is most directly assessed by the Arms component of BEFAST. To test it, have the patient extend both arms straight out with palms up and eyes closed briefly, and watch for any drift or inability to hold the position. If one arm drifts downward or cannot be maintained, that indicates weakness on that side, which is a common sign of a stroke affecting the opposite side of the brain.

This focus on arm movement makes the Arms check the best fit for detecting unilateral weakness. The other BEFAST elements look for different stroke signs: Balance checks coordination and stability (which may reflect leg or body involvement but isn’t the specific test for unilateral limb weakness), Eyes looks for vision changes, Face checks for facial droop, and Speech looks for slurred or difficult speech. Time remains the cue to activate emergency care.