Stroke

If you have a stroke, the blood supply to your brain is cut off. After a few minutes without oxygen and food from your blood, your brain begins to suffer damage.

Depending on the type of stroke, you can be permanently disabled – but many people recover well. If you have high blood pressure and smoke, you’re at a much greater risk of having a stroke. The Stroke Foundation website has detailed information on:

• recognising stroke
• living with stroke
• preventing stroke.

It has stories of people who’ve recovered from stroke and resources for stroke sufferers and their families. What to do if someone is having a stroke If you think you or someone else is suffering a stroke, call 111 immediately.

The sooner treatment is received, the less damage a stroke will cause.

The Stroke Foundation suggests a FAST check.

Face: is one side of the smile droopy?

Arms: raise both arms – is 1 side weak?

Speech: is it slurred or are words jumbled?

Time: act fast and call 111!

Mini-strokes – or TIAs

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – also called a ‘mini-stroke’ – has similar symptoms to a stroke. However, most people fully recover within a few minutes or an hour. If you think you’ve had a TIA, see a doctor. They can be a warning that a stroke will follow. You can read more about TIAs on the Stroke Foundation website: transient ischaemic attacks. The Ministry of Health is grateful to The Stroke Foundation for permission to link to its website and to use the FAST check image.

Reference:   Ministry of Health (MOH) - 2015