More and more middle-aged men and women are suffering strokes – and unhealthy lifestyles are mostly to blame. Lisa Salmon reports on the facts all of us need to know

If you thought strokes were just something that happened to elderly people, think again – the number of middle-aged people suffering attacks has rocketed.

WHAT IS A STROKE?

A stroke is a ‘brain attack’ which happens when blood supply to the brain is cut off, either by a clot (ischaemic stroke; accounting for around 85% of annual UK cases) or brain bleed (haemorrhagic; accounting for around 15% of cases).

Symptoms usually occur suddenly, and can include weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty finding words, blurred vision or loss of sight.

There are around 152,000 strokes a year in the UK, and it’s the leading cause of complex disability, as severe strokes can leave people paralysed and unable to communicate. It’s also one of the leading causes of death; the Stroke Association says around half of people who have a haemorrhagic stroke die before they get to hospital.

Another type of stroke is a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini-stroke, which has similar symptoms but they are less severe and temporary, often lasting from a few minutes to an hour. They should never be ignored though, as around 15% of ischaemic strokes are preceded by a TIA.

ARE UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLES TO BLAME?

Lack of exercise, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight and an unhealthy diet are all known to raise the risk. These things can cause blood vessel damage, increase blood pressure and make blood more likely to clot – all potential factors in a stroke.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

If a stroke is suspected, getting to hospital immediately is vital.

For people with strokes caused by a blood clot, a treatment called thrombolysis can be given to break down the clot – but it’s only effective up to four-and-a-half hours after it strikes.

WOULD YOU SPOT THE SIGNS?

When a stroke strikes, acting fast can save lives, and help prevent long-term serious disability. The FAST test can help you recognise some of the most common symptoms:

  • Facial weakness: Can the person smile? Has their face fallen on one side?
  • Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms and keep them there?
  • Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred?
  • Time to call 999.
  • For more information, visit www.stroke.org.uk or call the Stroke Association helpline on 0303 303 3100