A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked by a clot, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds. Brain cells start to die within minutes, so a stroke is a medical emergency. High blood pressure is the biggest cause. Fast treatment in hospital can save life and reduce disability.
Symptoms
Face drooping on one side
Weakness or numbness of an arm or leg, usually on one side of the body
Trouble speaking: slurred or confused speech, or not understanding others
Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
Sudden severe headache, dizziness or loss of balance
Remember FAST: Face, Arm, Speech, Time to go to hospital
Causes
High blood pressure (the most important cause)
Diabetes
Smoking and naswar
High cholesterol
Irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
Heart disease, including rheumatic heart disease
Older age and family history
Prevention
Check your blood pressure regularly and take blood pressure medicines every day if prescribed
Stop smoking and naswar
Control diabetes and cholesterol
Eat less salt and oily food, and more vegetables and fruit
Be active every day
If you have an irregular heartbeat, ask your doctor about blood-thinning medicine
Treatment
Go to hospital immediately: some stroke treatments only work within the first few hours
A brain scan (CT) is needed to tell a clot from bleeding before treatment
Medicines to prevent another stroke, prescribed by a doctor
Physiotherapy and speech therapy to regain movement and speech
Long-term control of blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol
Do not give food, water or medicines by mouth until the person's swallowing has been checked
Common questions
The weakness went away after a few minutes. Do I still need a doctor?
Yes, urgently. This may be a mini-stroke (TIA), a warning that a major stroke may follow within days. Go to hospital the same day.
Can a person recover after a stroke?
Many people regain much of their movement and speech, especially in the first months, with physiotherapy, practice and family support. Recovery depends on the size and place of the stroke and on how fast it was treated.
