Stroke
A stroke happens when the blood supply to your brain is cut off. This can be caused by a blood clot blocking an artery in your brain (ischaemic stroke) or a blood vessel bursting in your brain (haemorrhagic stroke). A stroke can also happen after an injury to an artery in your neck. This is called cervical artery dissection.
Risk factors for stroke include:
- older age
- smoking
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- not being very active
- being overweight or obese
- diabetes
- a family history of stroke or heart disease
- an abnormal heartbeat (often a condition known as atrial fibrillation)
- conditions that cause your blood to close more slowly (for example, haemophilia)
- regularly drinking too much alcohol
- using illegal drugs, such as cocaine
The symptoms of stroke vary depending on what type you have and the part of your brain it affects. Symptoms usually come on suddenly, within seconds or minutes.
A good way to recognise if someone has had a stroke is to use the 'FAST' test. FAST stands for:
- Face
- Arm
- Speech
- Time to call 999
This involves checking for any one of the three main symptoms of stroke – facial weakness, arm weakness or speech problems. If you notice that someone has one or more of these symptoms, you should call for emergency help straight away.
Other common symptoms of stroke may include:
- sudden loss of sight in one or both eyes, or blurred vision
- confusion or difficulty understanding
- loss of balance or co-ordination
- severe headache
You will have a number of tests in hospital to try to find out what type of stroke you had and which part of your brain has been affected. This will allow your doctor to plan your treatment.
You will have your blood pressure measured and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to record the rhythm and electrical activity of your heart. You may then have blood tests to measure your cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
You will also have a brain scan (for example, a CT or MRI) as soon as possible. This will help to find out if your stroke happened because of a bleed or a blockage.
Later on, you may have some other tests on your heart and blood vessels to find out what caused your stroke.
- remove fatty deposits from the carotid artery that takes blood to your brain (carotid endarterectomy)
- drain blood from your brain
- relieve swelling in your brain
You can take steps to lower your risk of stroke by making changes to your lifestyle. Some examples are listed below.
- Stop smoking. This can greatly reduce your risk of stroke, no matter how old you are or how long you have been smoking.
- Don't exceed the recommended alcohol limits. By cutting down the amount of alcohol you drink, you can reduce your blood pressure, which in turn lowers your risk of stroke.
- Improve your diet. Reducing how much cholesterol and salt you eat can lower your risk of stroke.
- Increase the amount of physical activity that you do – aim to do some every day. The recommended healthy level of physical activity is 150 minutes (two and a half hours) of moderate exercise over a week in bouts of 30 minutes or more.
This information was published by Bupa Group's Health Content Team and has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals. To the best of their knowledge the information is current and based on reputable sources of medical evidence, however Bupa (Asia) Limited makes no representation or warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of the Content.
The information on this page, and any information on third party websites referred to on this page, is provided as a guide only. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice, nor is it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Bupa (Asia) Limited is not liable for any loss or damage you suffer arising out of the use of, or reliance on, the information.
Third party websites are not owned or controlled by Bupa and any individual may be able to access and post messages on them. Bupa is not responsible for the content or availability of these third party websites. Last updated August 2017.
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