When a Stroke acts act F.A.S.T.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a ‘brain attack’ caused by a disturbance of the blood supply to the brain.

There are two main types of stroke, which require different types of treatment:

Ischaemic stroke

The most common form of stroke. It is caused by a clot narrowing or blocking blood vessels so that blood cannot reach a particular area of the brain. This leads to the death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen.

Haemorrhagic stroke

Caused when a weakened blood vessel in the brain bursts. This produces bleeding into the brain, which leads to damage.

What is a TIA?
Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is also called 'mini-stroke'. It is similar to a stroke and has the same signs, but gets better within 24 hours. However, it could be a warning sign of a more serious stroke and it is vital that it gets the same F.A.S.T. action by calling 999.

Why you must Act F.A.S.T.
A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. So recognising the signs of stroke and calling 999 for an ambulance is crucial. The sooner somebody who is having a stroke gets urgent medical attention, the better their chances of a good recovery.

Rapid diagnosis of TIA (mini-stroke) allows urgent steps to be taken to reduce the risk of having a stroke.

Reducing your risk
Some people are more at risk of having a stroke if they also have certain other medical conditions. These include:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat)
Diabetes
It is important that these conditions are carefully monitored and treated.

The risk of having a stroke is higher amongst people in certain ethnic groups, including South Asian, African and Caribbean. This is partly because high blood pressure and diabetes are more common in these groups.

There are also lifestyle factors that may increase the risk of having a stroke. They include:

Smoking
Being overweight
Lack of exercise
Poor diet
Exceeding the recommended daily alcohol limit.
The NHS recommends women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day.
Leading a healthy, active lifestyle is vital to help reduce your risk of having a stroke.