Stroke Awareness month

May is stroke awareness month, an opportunity to speak about the signs and symptoms and the importance of acting fast. The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen. 

The Stroke Association have reported that in the UK, a stroke strikes every five minutes, but there are 1.3 million stroke survivors. Make sure you know the signs and symptoms and what to do if you suspect someone is having a stroke, you could save a life.  

Knowing the symptoms:  

The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word FAST: 

  • Face – the face may have dropped on 1 side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped. 
  • Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in 1 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. 

How can you reduce your risk: 

Although your risk of having a stroke is higher if you have already had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (also called a TIA or mini-stroke), you can reduce your risk of another stroke. It's important that you take the medication you're prescribed, and make any lifestyle changes you need. 

You can significantly reduce your risk of having a stroke if you: 

If you have a medical condition that increases your risk of a stroke, it's important to manage it effectively and take the medication you are prescribed. 

Remember, if you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke, phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. 

Posted by Frimley Health and Care on

Frimley Health and Care

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