FOCUS ON STROKES

More women than men die from this medical emergency, so it’s time to learn more

- ALI HORSFALL

How much do you know about strokes? If the answer is ‘not a lot’, it’s worth getting clued up about this leading cause of death and disability among adults. Staggeringly, a stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and the nation currently has over one million stroke survivors. ‘Anyone at any age can have one,’ says Georgina Hill, from the Stroke Association (stroke.org.uk). ‘However, the average age for women in the UK to be affected is 78, and one in four strokes happen to people under the age of 65.’ We get the lowdown on this life-threatening condition.

WHAT IS A STROKE?

When blood stops flowing to the brain, causing damage to brain cells, it’s known as a stroke. ‘The effects of a stroke depend on where it takes place in the brain, and how big the damaged area is,’ explains Georgina.

THE 3 TYPES OF STROKE

1 ISCHAEMIC STROKE – the most common type that causes around 85% of all strokes. This occurs when a blockage cuts off the blood supply to the brain.

2 HAEMORRHAGIC STROKE – is due to bleeding in or around the brain. This is also known as brain haemorrhage or a brain bleed.

3 TRANSIENT ISCHAEMIC ATTACK (TIA) – this is known as a mini-stroke when the blockage stopping the blood to the brain is temporary. This means that the stroke symptoms don’t last as long, but an ischaemic stroke can follow.

SPOT THE SIGNS