H ealth
Stroke
lasting between a few minutes and several hours.
TIAs should be treated urgently, as they’re often a
warning sign you’re at risk of having a full stroke in
the near future. Seek medical
advice as soon as possible, even
if your symptoms resolve.
Certain conditions increase the
risk of having a stroke, including:
high blood pressure (hyperten-
sion), high cholesterol, atrial
fibrillation, diabetes
.
A stroke is a seri-
ous life-threatening
medical condition
that occurs when the
blood supply to part
of the brain is cut off.
Strokes are a medi-
cal emergency and
urgent treatment is
essential.
The sooner a person
receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is
likely to happen.
If you suspect that you or someone else is having a
stroke, phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambu-
lance.
Treating a stroke
Treatment depends on the
type of stroke you have, includ-
ing which part of the brain was affected and what
caused it.
Strokes are usually treated with medication. This
includes medicines to prevent and dissolve blood
clots, reduce blood pressure and reduce cholesterol
levels.
In some cases, procedures may be required to re-
move blood clots. Surgery may also be required to
treat brain swelling and reduce the risk of further
bleeding in cases of haemorrhagic strokes.
Symptoms of a stroke
The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered
with the word F.A.S.T.:
•Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the
person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or
eye may have dropped.
•Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not
be able to lift both arms and keep them there be-
cause of weakness or numbness in one arm.
•Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled,
or the person may not be able to talk at all despite
appearing to be awake.
•Time – it’s time to dial 999 immediately if you see
any of these signs or symptoms.
Recovering from a stroke
People who survive a stroke are often left with long-
term problems caused by injury to their brain.
Some people need a long period of rehabilitation
before they can recover their former independence,
while many never fully recover and need support
adjusting to living with the effects of their stroke.
Local authorities should provide free reablement
services for anyone assessed as needing them. These
services help the person recovering from a stroke to
learn or relearn the skills necessary for independent
daily living at home.
Some people will be dependent on some form of
care for help with their daily activities. For example,
a care worker could come to the person’s home to
help with washing and dressing, or to provide com-
panionship.
Preventing a stroke
You can significantly reduce your risk of having a
stroke through leading a healthy lifestyle by:
•eating a healthy diet
•taking regular exercise
•drinking alcohol in moderation
•not smoking
Causes of a stroke
Like all organs, the brain needs the oxygen and nu-
trients provided by blood to function properly. If the
supply of blood is restricted or stopped, brain cells
begin to die. This can lead to brain injury, disabili-
ty and possibly death. There are two main causes
of strokes: ischaemic – where the blood supply is
stopped because of a blood clot, accounting for
85% of all cases; haemorrhagic – where a weakened
blood vessel supplying the brain bursts. There’s also
a related condition known as a transient ischaemic
attack (TIA), where the blood supply to the brain is
temporarily interrupted.
This causes what’s known as a mini-stroke, often
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