FASHION HEALTH & BEAUTY
Learn symptoms of mini-stroke
S
taff at St. Mary’s Hospital
have been raising awareness
of the signs and symptoms of
mini-strokes - also known as
transient ischaemic attack or TIA’s - as
part of this year’s “Action on Stroke
Month”.
A mini-stroke is the same as a stroke,
except the symptoms last for a short
amount of time and no longer than
The FAST test identifies the most
common symptoms of a stroke or TIA
in three easy to recognise categories:
F: Facial weakness - Can the person
smile? Has their face fallen on one
side?
A: Arm weakness - Can the person
raise both arms and keep them there?
S: Speech problems - Can the
person speak clearly and understand
what you say?
T: Time - to call 999.
24 hours. According to the Stroke
Association someone has a stroke every
three and a half minutes in the UK, but
worryingly 31per cent of people don’t
know what a stroke is.
Jeannine Johnson, Clinical Lead for
Stroke on the Island, said: “Too many
TIA’s are dismissed as 'funny turns' and
an important opportunity to see the
patient early on might be missed. It is
vital that the public are aware of the
FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) test and
seek emergency help immediately.”
A stroke is always a medical emergency
that requires immediate medical
attention. If you see any one of these
three signs, call 999. Recognising the
signs of stroke and calling an ambulance
is crucial. The quicker a patient arrives at
a specialist stroke unit, the quicker they
will receive appropriate treatment and
the more likely they are to make a better
recovery.
For further information about stroke
including prevention, emergency care,
rehabilitation and research visit the
Stroke Association website at www.
stroke.org.uk
Essential questions to ask the optician
Q: When I’ve been working on my computer
for hours my eyes get tired. Do I need
glasses?
A: There are a few reasons why prolonged
computer work could cause tired eyes. If you
haven’t had an eye examination recently
then it would be wise to have one – your
optician can advise as to whether they think
glasses will help. Using computer screens
can also cause your eyes to dry out, another
common cause of symptoms like yours. It’s
important for all computer users to take
regular breaks to rest their eyes.
Q: I have the start of a cataract. Wi ll I lose my
driving licence?
A: Cataracts occur when the lens inside your
eye becomes less clear and are a normal part
of the ageing process, a bit like your hair
going grey. In some people they grow to a
size where they affect vision and need to be
removed surgically. The time that it takes a
cataract to grow can vary enormously from
one patient to the next but most progress
slowly over a number of years. Have your
eyes examined as often as your optician
recommends. Surgery can be arranged in
78
www.visitilife.com
Dr Nigel Best,
optometrist
at Specsavers,
answers some
frequently
asked
questions
about
eyecare.
plenty of time to keep you on the road.
Q: My eyes are rugby ball shaped. Can I wear
contact lenses?
A: It sounds like you have astigmatism – this
is very common and occurs when the front
of your eye is not perfectly round. Opticians
use special soft contact lenses called
‘toric’ lenses to correct astigmatism, with
excellent results. If you have an up-to-date
prescription, then you can book a free
contact lens trial.
Q: If I have diabetes, can you tell during an
eye examination?
A: I would have to say yes and no. Diabetes
does cause changes in the back of the eye
that opticians are trained to recognise.
But it does take five years, on average,
after a patient becomes diabetic before
these changes show up in the eye. Regular
check-ups with your doctor are the best way
to detect diabetes in the early stages.
Q: My 10-year-old son is colour blind. How
likely is it that his five-year-old sister will
have the same problem?
A: Very unlikely. The way colour vision
deficiencies are inherited, boys are much
more likely to suffer from them than girls.
While eight boys out of every 100 will have a
problem with their colour vision, the figure
with girls is only one in every 200.
Q: My mother had glaucoma. Does this
mean I need an eye test every year?
A: Not necessarily. Your optician will take a
number of factors (age, eye pressures, health)
into account when deciding how often you
need an eye test. I see patients with a family
history of glaucoma every two years if I feel
that they are at low risk of developing the
condition.