A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.

Strokes are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is essential. The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen.

The Stroke Association developed the FAST campaign, which has been adopted by Public Health UK.

This simple message has equipped people to recognise stroke and to act quickly, giving sufferers the best chance of recovery.

Refresh your knowledge by reading the FAST prompts, below, and watching the latest campaign video. Don’t forget in Spain the emergency number is 112.

stroke fast

Symptoms of a stroke

The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word F.A.S.T.:

  • Face – the face may have dropped on one 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 one 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.
  • Time – it’s time to dial 999 (or 112 in Spain) immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.

 

Causes of a stroke

Like all organs, the brain needs the oxygen and nutrients provided by blood to function properly. If the supply of blood is restricted or stopped, brain cells begin to die. This can lead to brain injury, disability and possibly death.

There are two main causes of strokes:

  • ischaemic – where the blood supply is stopped because of a blood clot, accounting for 85% of all cases
  • haemorrhagic – where a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts

There’s also a related condition known as a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), where the blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted.

This causes what’s known as a mini-stroke, often lasting between a few minutes and several hours. TIAs should be treated urgently, as they’re often a warning sign you’re at risk of having a full stroke in the near future. Seek medical advice as soon as possible, even if your symptoms resolve.

Know your stroke risks

You can significantly reduce your risk of having a stroke through leading a healthy lifestyle by:

  1. Know your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure you can be at greater risk of stroke
  2. Find out whether you have atrial fibrillation
  3. If you smoke you are increasing your risks – stop!
  4. Get your cholesterol levels checked. If you have high levels of bad cholesterol you may be at greater risk of stroke
  5. If you are diabetic follow medical recommendations to control your diabetes
  6. Include exercise in your daily routine
  7. Reduce salt and bad fats in your diet.

Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle for the most part and get regular health checks with the doctor to prevent becoming a victim of stroke.

To book an appointment to have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked call 966 860 258 or email doctors@medcarespain.com

Worried about your risk of stroke?

If you are concerned that you may have a high risk of stroke and need some advice, why not book an appointment with our nurse. She can discuss your risk with you, carry out any necessary health checks and work on a plan to help you reduce your stroke risk. Call 966 860 258 for more details or to make an appointment.