Time is precious, and that is especially true when it comes to responding to someone experiencing a stroke. The quicker that person receives help, the greater chance they have of making a recovery. We at YourGP therefore believe it is vitally important to raise awareness of the symptoms of a stroke so that as many of you as possible can spring into action and help, should the need ever arise. On World Stroke Day, read on to discover why every second counts.

What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without that vital blood supply, brain cells can become damaged or die. The effects of a stroke are largely dependent on what part of the brain was affected and how quickly it was treated. The effects can therefore be wide-ranging, however the most common long-term effects of a stroke include problems with speech, swallowing, and mobility.

What are the risk factors?
There are certain lifestyle factors that can increase someone’s risk of experiencing a stroke. They include:

• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol excessively
• Being overweight
• Not doing enough exercise

Certain medical conditions can also put someone at greater risk of a stroke, including:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol

What are the signs to look out for?
One in four of us will experience a stroke in our lifetime. It is therefore essential that we all familiarise ourselves with the common warning signs to look out for and act FAST.

• Face: The person’s face may start to droop, making it appear asymmetric.
• Arms: The person may experience numbness or weakness in their arms and find it difficult to lift them.
• Speech: The person’s speech may become slurred.
• Time: It is time to call 999 right away – anyone experiencing these symptoms requires immediate emergency medical treatment.

Other symptoms of a stroke include a sudden headache, confusion, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, problems with communicating, blurred or loss of vision, and loss of consciousness.

Find out more
If you would like to find out more about World Stroke Day and what more you can do to help save lives, head to www.world-stroke.org/world-stroke-day-campaign.