A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is suddenly cut off
It can affect speech, movement, and other functions, and needs urgent hospital care
The main symptoms can be remembered using FAST: Face, Arms, Speech, Time to call 999
Other symptoms include blurred vision, confusion, and a severe headache
Always call 999 immediately, even if symptoms stop
What is a Stroke?
A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain suddenly stops, usually due to a blockage. It can affect abilities such as speech and movement, and recovery can take a long time. A stroke needs urgent hospital treatment, since it can be life-threatening.
Recognising the Signs
The main symptoms of a stroke can appear suddenly, and include facial weakness (one side of the face may droop, making it hard to smile), arm weakness (difficulty lifting and holding both arms due to weakness or numbness on one side), and speech problems (slurred speech or sounding confused). These are easily remembered with the word FAST: Face, Arms, Speech, and Time to call 999.
Other possible signs include weakness or numbness down one side of the body, blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes, difficulty speaking or finding words, confusion and memory loss, dizziness or falling over, a severe headache, or feeling or being sick. Symptoms can sometimes ease off after a short time, but it's vital to get help straight away regardless, since a stroke can happen at any age, though it's more common in older people.
?? Call 999 now if:
You think you're having, or have had, a stroke — or you've had signs of a stroke within the last 24 hours, even if they've now stopped. Do not drive yourself to A&E; the 999 call handler will advise you on what to do.
Page last reviewed: 6 March 2024 · Next review due: 6 March 2027
Stroke · Causes & Risk
Causes and Reducing Your Risk
? 4 min readReviewed: March 2024
What Increases Risk
A stroke can happen to anyone at any age, but risk may be higher if you're over 50, from a Black or South Asian background, have sickle cell disease, have an unhealthy lifestyle, get migraines, take the combined contraceptive pill, are pregnant with pre-eclampsia, or have recently had a baby. Certain conditions also raise the risk, including high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation (an irregular, fast heartbeat), high cholesterol, and having previously had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA, or mini-stroke).
Lowering Your Risk
If you've already had a stroke or TIA, you're at higher risk of another one, though there's a lot you can do to help reduce this. Stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and cutting down on alcohol can all make a difference. It's also important to keep taking any prescribed medicine for underlying conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes — speak to a GP if you're having any problems with your medicines rather than stopping them on your own.
Page last reviewed: 6 March 2024 · Next review due: 6 March 2027
Stroke · Treatment
Getting Treatment for a Stroke
? 4 min readReviewed: March 2024
Immediate Treatment
Treatment depends on the specific type of stroke. In the first 24 hours, this may include medicine to break down blood clots in the brain (thrombolysis), surgery to remove a blood clot (thrombectomy) or drain fluid from the brain, or a procedure to relieve pressure building up inside the skull. While in hospital, a team of doctors, specialists and therapists will support you in starting your recovery.
Ongoing Medicines
Following a stroke, you may be prescribed medicines long-term, including anticoagulants to help prevent blood clots forming, medicines to lower blood pressure, and statins to reduce cholesterol. These medicines play an important role in reducing the risk of a further stroke, so it's important to take them as prescribed and discuss any concerns with your care team.
Page last reviewed: 6 March 2024 · Next review due: 6 March 2027
