- A stroke is actually a ‘brain attack’ when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off. Blood carries essential nutrients and oxygen to your brain; without blood your brain cells can be damaged or die.
- Around 110,000 people have a stroke in England every year. It is the third largest cause of death in the UK after heart disease and cancer. Brian injuries resulting from strokes are a major cause of adult disability in the UK.
- Although older people are most at risk, strokes can happen at any age – including in children and infants. In fact, one in four strokes in the UK happen in people under the age of 65. If you are South Asian, black African or black Caribbean you are at a higher risk of stroke than other people in the UK; it isn’t completely understood why this is, but it’s probably connected to the fact that you are more likely to have conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Up to 80% of strokes can be prevented. You can significantly reduce your risk of having a stroke through a healthy lifestyle, such as eating a healthy diet, taking regular exercise, drinking alcohol in moderation and not smoking. Lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol levels with medication also lowers the risk of stroke substantially, as does taking anticoagulant medication if you have an irregular heartbeat due to a condition called atrial fibrillation.
- If a close relative – be it a parent, grandparent, brother or sister – has had a stroke, you are at a higher risk of suffering a stroke. Studies have found certain genetic conditions can cause strokes. For example, sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that affects your red blood cells and makes them more likely to block your blood vessels.
- Symptoms and signs of stroke can differ from person to person but usually occur quite suddenly. As different parts of your brain control different parts of your body, your symptoms will depend on the part of your brain affected and the extent of the damage. The test to use is called the Face, Arm, Speech, Time test – or FAST. If a person’s face has dropped to one side, if they are having trouble lifting their arms or legs or if they have slurred or garbled speech – then head for the emergency room as quickly as possible.
- Strokes are like fingerprints and no two are the same. For some people the effects may be relatively minor and may not last long, while others may be left with more serious problems that make them dependent on other people. Unfortunately not everyone survives – around one in eight people die within 30 days of having a stroke.
- You need to see a doctor if you have a mini stroke. There are mainly three types of strokes: haemorrhagic stroke – caused by bleeding around the brain, ischaemic stroke – caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to the brain and transient ischaemic attack or TIA – also known as a mini-stroke. TIA is the same as a stroke, except that the symptoms last for a short amount of time and no longer than 24 hours. This is because the blockage that stops the blood getting to your brain is temporary. Just because symptoms go away doesn’t mean it should be ignored. About one in three people who have a TIA later suffer a full-blown stroke.
30 Oct. 2015
