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The Main Facts
Every year, there are 15 million people who suffer from having a stroke. Out of these people, 5 million fully recover, 5 million are left disabled and 5 million lose their lives. It most commonly affects adults over the age of 65 but they can occur in younger people too. -
How does a stroke happen?
The brain is a vital part of the body and like the rest of the internal organs, it needs oxygen in order to function. Strokes occur when the blood flow to the brain is cut off meaning the brain is deprived of oxygen. When the brain cells are starved of oxygen the become damaged; the symptoms that follow this are a stroke. -
Signs and symptoms
Depending on which part of the brain is damaged, the effects vary. The most common signs and symptoms of a stroke are a drooping face, difficulty speaking or weakness in the arm or leg. However, there are other signs and symptoms that include, changes to vision, loss of balance, memory loss and possibly confusion; the effects can be minor and barely noticeable. -
F.A.S.T
In some cases, the changes to the brain can be reversed if they are noticed early enough.
It is important that
F - Face: is their face drooping on one side?
A - Arms: can they lift their arms and hold them there?
S - Speech: is their speech slurred?
T - Time: if any of these signs are noticed, its time to ring an ambulance. -
Types of Stroke
When the individual arrives at the hospital, a doctor will assess them and arrange an urgent scan of the brain which allows them to see what time of stroke they have had. Strokes are put into 2 groups that are dependant on the problem within the blood vessels. One group is if it is a blockage of blood cells preventing the blood from getting to the brain; this type of stroke is called an ischaemic stroke and it affects 85% of people. Another is called a haemorrhagic stroke and this effects 15%. -
Prevention and Effects
Sometimes stroke symptoms can completely disappear within 24 hours, this type of stroke is called a mini stroke or a T.I.A (transient ischaemic attack. Although the symptoms are not that damaging, it is still important that the individual rings the hospital and goes to get checked out as it could be early signs of having a full stroke. No matter what type of stroke a person has, daily medication are given and required to be taken every day to prevent it happening again. -
Stroke Rehabilitation
Some symptoms can be disabling yet over time, the brain is slowly able to adapt to recover some lost abilities. Rehab can be difficult but there are specialists available to help support alongside doctors and nurses. These specialists include dieticians, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. There are also counselling sessions and patient groups available for people to talk about their feelings and how to improve their self esteem again after a stroke.