Did you know
1. Every five minutes someone in the UK has a stroke. That’s an estimated 150,000 people per year.
2. A stroke is a brain attack. A stroke happens due to a clot or a bleed in the brain, causing brain cells to die.
3. Signs of a stroke appear suddenly and most commonly include one or more of the following:
• Facial weakness
• Arm or leg weakness
• Speech problems
• Visual problems
If signs of stroke only last a few minutes or a few hours, then a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) or mini-stroke may have occurred.
4. A stroke is an emergency. If you see the signs of a stroke act FAST and call 999. Early treatment saves lives and increases the chance of making a better recovery.
5. A TIA is a warning sign that must never be ignored. Seek urgent medical attention for assessment and treatment. High-risk TIA patients must be assessed by a specialist within 24 hours of onset of symptoms.
6. Stroke is the third biggest killer and the leading cause of severe disability in the UK. More than 250,000 people live with disabilities caused by stroke.
7. Most people affected are over 65, but anyone can have a stroke, including children and even babies. Around 1,000 people under 30 have a stroke each year.
8. Almost one in four men and one in five women aged 45 can expect to have a stroke if they live to 85.
9. Around three times more women die from stroke than from breast cancer in the UK.
10. Eating healthily, taking more exercise, not smoking and ensuring blood pressure is normal, can all help to prevent stroke
11. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with helping everyone affected by stroke. We are working to create a world where there are fewer strokes and all those touched by stroke get the help they need.
