Health & Wellbeing Focus on strokes

More women than men die from this medical emergency, so it’s time to learn more

How much do you know about strokes? If the answer is ‘not a lot’, it’s worth getting clued up about this leading cause of death and disability among adults. Staggeringly, a stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and the nation currently has over one million stroke survivors. ‘Anyone at any age can have one,’ says Georgina Hill, from the Stroke Association (stroke.org.uk). ‘However, the average age for women in the UK to be affected is 78, and one in four strokes happen to people under the age of 65.’ We get the lowdown on this life-threatening condition.

WHAT IS A STROKE?

When blood stops flowing to the brain, causing damage to brain cells, it’s known as a stroke. ‘The effects of a stroke depends on where it takes place in the brain, and how big the damaged area is,’ explains Georgina.

THE 3 TYPES OF STROKE

1

ISCHAEMIC STROKE – the most common type that causes around 85% of all strokes. This occurs when a blockage cuts off the blood supply to the brain.

2

HAEMORRHAGIC STROKE – is due to bleeding in or around the brain. This is also known as a brain haemorrhage or a brain bleed.

3

TRANSIENT ISCHAEMIC ATTACK (TIA) – this is known as a mini-stroke, when the blockage stopping blood to the brain is temporary. This means that the stroke symptoms don’t last as long, but an ischaemic stroke can follow.

SPOT THE SIGNS

‘The Face, Arms and Speech test is a way to tell if someone may be having a stroke,’ says Georgina. It’s easy to remember by using the word FAST. Is their Face drooping to the side? Are they experiencing weakness in their Arms? Is their Speech slurred, slow or jumbled? If you spot these signs, then it is Time to call 999.

Other signs include

✱ Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including in the legs, hands or feet.

✱ Difficulty finding words or speaking in clear sentences.

✱ Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes.

✱ Sudden memory loss or confusion, dizziness, or a sudden fall.

✱ A sudden, severe headache.

WHAT CAUSES A STROKE?

They can affect anyone, at any age. But there are things you can do to stack the odds against having one, in your favour. ‘High blood pressure is the biggest cause, and because lots of factors can affect blood pressure and it tends to rise as we get older, it’s vital to get yours checked,’ says Georgina. ‘Also, stopping smoking is one of the most important things you can

do. Eating a varied diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, as well as exercising regularly, can also make a big difference to your health,’ she says.

Type 2 diabetes and atrial fibrillation (AF) – a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heartbeat – are two other health issues that increase the chances of having a stroke.

THE FEMALE RISK FACTOR

High levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen can make blood clots more likely, which may raise the risk of a stroke. ‘Some women may take the contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapies for menopause symptoms. These change the level of sex hormones in the body so can slightly increase the risk of stroke,’ explains Georgina. ‘A medical professional will assess the benefits and risks of a medicine for you. If you’re concerned, you should talk to your GP.’ A study also showed that the risk of an ischaemic stroke is more likely to be inherited by women than by men, although the reasons are unknown.