The crucial signs of a stroke - and who's at risk

In the UK, statistics indicate that someone experiences a stroke every five minutes, with approximately 100,000 occurring every single year. Researchers suggest that the incidence rate is increasing and will continue to do so.

With strokes being the fourth leading cause of death in the UK, it’s more important than ever to be aware of what the signs are to make sure you can seek medical attention immediately. 

Cognitive rehabilitiation therapist Natalie Mackenzie explains who's most vulnerable, what to look out for and how to minimise your risks.

What causes a stroke?

Simply put, a stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, resulting in cell death. This affects the way your brain communicates with your body, leading to several consequences. Strokes can strike at any time, and affect anyone, but keeping yourself healthy and fit can reduce your risk. 

The three types of stroke.

• Ischaemic Stroke, this is the most common form of stroke, where a blockage results in blood being unable to reach the brain.There are a number of reasons why a blockage can happen, including some heart conditions and issues with how the blood flows through the arteries.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke, resulting from a bleed in the brain, are less common and can be due to abnormalities with blood vessels in the brain. High blood pressure and high levels of fatty deposits in your arteries can increase the risks of this type of stroke.
• Transient Ischemic Attack, is also known as a mini-stroke. This is a major warning sign of a stroke, with the symptoms being similar but they only last for a short period of time. Do not dismiss these symptoms even if they stop quickly, seek medical attention to ensure you have not experienced TIA to ensure rapid treatment to reduce the risk of a stroke.

Who's most at risk?

Several things can increase your risk of strokes in general.

The highest single risk factor is high blood pressure and even small changes to high BP can make a big reduction in your risk of stroke. Other factors can include diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, family history and smoking. 

Strokes occur more frequently in certain groups of people - if you're south Asian, African or Caribbean, your risk is higher, partly because rates of diabetes and high blood pressure are increased in these groups.

Women also have additional risk factors - the use of certain oral contraceptives, pregnancy and migraines can all lead to increases in risk.

What are the warning signs of a stroke to spot?

The acronym FAST is the most common acronym to learn to ensure you know when to call 999. But there are also other factors to consider as potential symptoms, which is why I prefer the acronym BE FAST.  Let’s break them down… 

• B - Balance - Can the individual walk normally?
• E - Eyes - Are they experiencing blurriness or fuzzy vision, or lost sight in one eye?
• F - Face weakness - Has their smile changed? Have their face or eyes drooped?
• A - Arm weakness. A quick test is to check that they can raise both arms.
• S - Speech problems. Can they speak as usual and understand what you are saying?
• T - Time to call 999: if you see any of these signs above.

There are other red flags you need to be aware of too, including: sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body; sudden and severe headaches; sudden confusion or memory loss and sudden dizziness or falls.

How can I reduce my stroke risk?

You can help reduce your risk of stroke by ensuring you attend regular GP check ups as you get older, to ensure any changes in your body can be identified and managed.

Follow the guidance on engaging in a healthy lifestyle, eating and sleeping well and keeping active. If you experience any symptoms of BE FAST or witness anyone experiencing them, even for a short time, call 999.

Immediate medical attention is critical - the sooner an affected person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen.