What is a stroke?

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A stroke is a brain attack. It happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. Have a look at the animations below to see how this can happen.

Ischaemic stroke
In an ischaemic stroke the blood vessel is blocked by a blood clot, which interrupts the brain’s blood supply. (This video does not have sound).

Haemorrhagic stroke
Haemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain tissue. (This video does not have sound).

Now lets answer some common questions.

Think FAST

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If you think someone might be having a stroke it is important to think FAST.

FAST stands for The Face Arm Speech Test This is used by paramedics to diagnose stroke prior to a person being admitted to hospital. By diagnosing the possibility of stroke before reaching hospital, it is possible for appropriate referral to a stroke unit to be made as quickly as possible.

FAST image

If someone has failed any of these tests it is crucial to call 999. Stroke is a medical emergency and by calling 999 you can help someone reach hospital quickly and receive the early treatment they need. Prompt action can prevent further damage to the brain and help someone make a full recovery. Delay can result in death or major long term disabilities, such as paralysis, severe memory loss and communication problems.

Watch this video to find out more. For more information see: Think FAST.

Keypoint

Remember, stroke is a medical emergency and by calling 999 you can help someone reach hospital quickly and receive the early treatment they need. Please share this information with friends and family.

Common Questions

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Strokes can happen for different reasons, however there are some common questions that get asked following stroke. Lets have a look at these and the advice offered.

Common questions

Q. Why me?

Stroke often happens out of the blue, without warning. Asking ‘Why me?’ is the first step on the process of recovery and learning to cope with the changes a stroke can bring.

Q. What causes a stroke?

Stroke is caused by an interruption of the blood flow to the brain, by either a blood clot (thrombosis) or burst blood vessel (haemorrhage). As a result, brain cells are deprived of the oxygen and other nutrients, which they need. Some brain cells become damaged and others die. No two strokes are the same, and the symptoms depend on the area of the brain affected and the extent of the damage incurred. (Watch the videos above for more information.)

Q. Are there any warning signs before a stroke happens?

For most people stroke happens suddenly, without warning. However, sometimes people do experience symptoms before the stroke occurs, such as dizziness, headache and/or loss of balance. A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mini stroke is a clear warning of an increased risk of a stroke and requires medical attention. (Watch the FAST video below for more information.)

Q. Does the way I live have any bearing on stroke?

You can minimise your chance of stroke by paying attention to risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, physical activity, what you eat and how much alcohol you drink. (For more information please see our section on How do I keep healthy and Thinking about it and getting started.)

Q. Are strokes caused by high blood pressure?

Persistent high blood pressure is a common risk factor for stroke. Over a period of time high blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels and encourages the blood to become stickier and so more likely to clot. Blood pressure should be checked in a healthy person every five years, if ever found to be abnormal it should be checked once a year. (For more information please see our section on Medications.)

Q. Does physical activity help prevent a stroke?

Yes, physical activity can help prevent a stroke. Regular activity is a good way of lowering blood pressure. It will also help control your weight and it leads to favourable changes to the balance of fats in your blood. (For more information please see our section Being Active)

Key point

If you have any questions about Stroke why not call the Chest Heart & Stroke Advice line free on 0808 801 0899 and speak to one of the specialist nurses.

Lets go on to look at what you should do if you think someone is having a stroke

Introduction

Communicating with others is an important part of everyday life and something we take for granted.
This section helps you understand why some conversations go better than others and gives you suggestions on how to be more confident and in control.

Goal Setting

Setting goals is about helping you to cope. When you set your own goals it can help you to focus on what you want to achieve and how you can go about it.

Before you start setting your own goals, let’s see how other people have gone about it.

Introduction

Many people experience emotional feelings following stroke.

Getting to know them better, accepting and understanding these feelings can help you move forward.

This section is about helping you to understand and deal with the many feelings you have.

Introduction

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Lets face it…..We all know we need to be active in our everyday lives, however actually doing it can be a challenge, especially if you have had a stroke.

The section looks at some of the difficulties you might have after your stroke, which might make it harder for you to be more active. It will also offer some helpful hints and tips to help you overcome these and start doing a bit more. Lets start thinking about it!

What is self management

Ownership, partnership, ability, empowering, people, driving seat, self-promotion, essential, enabling, control, independence, individualised, encouraging, confidence

Self management isn’t about replacing services or having to do things on your own, but it is about giving you some control and ownership of your life and helping you set goals.

To find out what is in it for you have a look at this section to find out more about self management.

The importance of sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is really important. Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life.
Sleep problems are often reported by people who have had a stroke.

Let’s explore how well you sleep and how you could improve this.