Stroke A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. It's sudden and can cause immediate loss of feeling and weakness, usually on one side of your body. A stroke can also affect your speech, vision, memory and emotions. About stroke Every year in the UK, around 150,000 people have a stroke. It's the third most common cause of death in the UK, and also the leading cause of severe disability. A stroke is a medical emergency, so recognising the symptoms quickly and getting early treatment in hospital is important. Most people who have a stroke are over 65, but many are younger than this. Anyone can have a stroke, including babies and children. Types of stroke * Haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding inside the brain. This can be due to a blood vessel bursting inside the brain, or, more rarely, on the surface of the brain. * Transient ischaemic attack (TIA or "mini-stroke") is similar to a stroke, except the symptoms are only temporary. TIAs happen when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted for a short time. * Stroke due to cervical artery dissection is caused when the lining in one of the arteries in your neck is torn, restricting the blood supply to your brain. Symptoms of Stroke Stroke and TIA symptoms may include: * numbness, weakness or inability to move your face, arm or leg on one side of your body; A good way to recognise if someone has had a stroke is to use the face-arm-speech test (abbreviated to FAST). This involves checking for three of the main symptoms of stroke - facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems. If you notice someone has any of these symptoms, you should call for emergency help. Long-Term Problems * weakness or paralysis, usually on one side of the body; These problems can often improve as you recover. Complications of Stroke * pneumonia; Other complications of stroke can include seizures (fits) - especially in the weeks and months after the stroke. Causes of Stroke Risk factors for stroke include: * smoking; Diagnosis of Stroke Your doctor will try to find out why the stroke happened so you can have treatment to prevent further strokes in the future. You may have tests to detect: * raised blood pressure; Treatment of Stroke If you're unable to swallow, you will be given fluid through a drip in your arm and all the nutrients you need though a tube in your nose. You may be given oxygen through a face mask, if you need it, to help you breathe. You will be helped to sit up and move around as soon as you are able. If you're unable to move, you will be helped to regularly turn in your bed, to reduce your chance of getting pressure ulcers (bed sores) and of developing a blood clot in your leg veins (deep vein thrombosis). The exact type of treatment you have will depend on the type of stroke you have; however, it may include the following. Medicines Surgery Stroke rehabilitation Stroke recovery can be difficult to predict; most people will make most of their recovery in the early weeks and months following the stroke. However, recovery can continue after this time. The stroke team at the hospital will work out a rehabilitation programme for you (sometimes called a care pathway), designed around your particular needs. This will continue after you leave the hospital. Your rehabilitation programme may involve physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, ophthalmologists and psychologists, as well as doctors and nurses. Prevention of stroke * stopping smoking - giving up smoking can cut your risk of stroke in half, no matter how old you are or how long you have been smoking; Make sure you also get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked regularly, and take any medicines prescribed to you for high blood pressure/cholesterol. Stroke Q&As If I think someone is having a stroke what should I do? After a stroke will I recover and be able to get back to my normal life? What happens during rehabilitation? Further information Sources Stroke, Hemorrhagic. emedicine. www.emedicine.com, accessed 1 December 2008 Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005:606-607 Stroke rehabilitation. The Stroke Association. www.stroke.org.uk, accessed 15 December 2008 When a stroke happens. The Stroke Association. www.stroke.org.uk, accessed 12 November 2008 Cardiovascular disease. British Heart Foundation. www.bhf.org.uk, accessed 12 November 2008 Stroke. GP Notebook. www.gpnotebook.co.uk, accessed 25 November 2008 National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions. Stroke: national clinical guideline for diagnosis and initial management of acute stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA). London: Royal College of Physicians, 2008 Preventing a stroke. The Stroke Association. www.stroke.org.uk, accessed 1 December 2008 |