Reducing the risk of strokes

A stroke is a serious lifethreatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Each year in the UK, 100,000 people experience a stroke. Stroke strikes every five minutes and there are 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK.

A stroke is a medical 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 ambulance.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the acronym FAST.

• 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 a suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because 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. They may also have problems understanding what you’re saying to them.

• Time: it’s time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.

Causes

Like all organs, the brain needs the oxygen and nutrients 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, disability and possibly death.

There are two main causes of strokes: risk of a stroke by making healthy lifestyle choices.

• Ischaemic, where the blood supply is stopped because of a blood clot. This accounts for 85% of all cases.

• Haemorrhagic, where a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts.

There is also a related condition called a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), where the blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted. This causes what is known as a mini-stroke, which can last a few minutes or persist up to 24 hours. TIAs should be treated urgently, as they are often a warning sign that you are at risk of having a full stroke. Get medical advice as soon as possible, even if your symptoms get better.

• Regularly drinking too much alcohol raises your risk of a stroke. The UK government advises that to keep health risks low, it’s best to drink no more than 14 units a week for both men and women.

• Smoking doubles your risk of dying from a stroke, but the minute you stop, your risk of a stroke starts to drop right away. Giving up isn’t easy, but it is worth the effort to improve your health.

• Being overweight or obese can raise your risk of a stroke. Extra weight affects your body in many ways, such as raising the risk of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, which are both linked to stroke.

• Eating a healthy balanced diet can help to lower your risk of things like high blood pressure and diabetes.

• Being physically active can also help to reduce your risk. For further information, please visit www.stroke.org.uk