Eight ways to support a loved one after their stroke

EXPERTS OFFER PRACTICAL ADVICE TO AID RECOVERY.

- BY LISA SALMON

STROKES are the leading cause of adult disability in the UK, with around 100,000 occurring every year.

They happen when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off by a blood clot or haemorrhage, killing brain cells. But the effects can vary widely, depending on where the stroke happens in the brain, and how big the damaged area is.

As a result, it's impossible to be prescriptive about supporting people who've had strokes, as symptoms can vary from weakness or paralysis on one side, cognitive issues like memory or speech problems, emotional effects including depression and increased anger, or crushing fatigue.

To mark World Stroke Day (October 29), we spoke to Sarah Adderley, an associate director at the Stroke Association, who says around 240 people have a stroke every day, which is the equivalent of about one stroke every five minutes.

"We're seeing more and more people of working age having strokes each year," she explains.

There are 1.4 million stroke survivors living in the UK, she says, and around a third of them will have their speech affected, but there can also be diverse physical or cognitive effects. "It will be really unique, and that's the challenge in terms of supporting people after stroke," she points out.

"If you've seen one stroke, you've seen one stroke - they're all completely different, because the brain is such a complex organ."

Austin Willett, CEO of Different Strokes, which promotes independent stroke recovery for younger stroke survivors, says around a quarter of strokes happen to people of working age or younger.