National Stroke Week
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, causing brain cells to die. This interruption can be due to a blockage (ischemic stroke) or a burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). The reduced blood flow impairs brain function, potentially leading to loss of abilities controlled by the affected brain region, such as movement, speech, or memory.
Who Can Be Affected:
- All Ages: While strokes are more common in older adults, they can occur at any age, including in children and young adults.
- Risk Factors: Certain factors increase stroke risk, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, excessive alcohol use, obesity, and a family history of stroke. Other risk factors include heart disease, certain blood disorders, and lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise and poor diet.
How do you know if someone is having a stroke? Think… F.A.S.T.
Recognising the signs and symptoms of a stroke quickly can be crucial for effective treatment. The Stroke Foundation recommends the F.A.S.T. test as an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke.
The acronym F.A.S.T is often used to help remember the key symptoms:
- Face drooping: One side of the face may droop or become numb. Ask the person to smile and see if their smile is uneven.
- Arm weakness: One arm may become weak or numb. Ask the person to raise both arms and see if one arm drifts downward.
- Speech difficulties: The person may have trouble speaking or be unable to speak. Their speech might be slurred or strange. Ask them to repeat a simple sentence and check if they can do so correctly.
- Time to call emergency services: If you observe any of these signs, call emergency services immediately. The faster a stroke is treated, the better the chances of recovery.
Additional symptoms can include sudden confusion, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance. If any of these symptoms occur, it’s important to seek medical help right away.
A stroke is always a medical emergency. The longer a stroke remains untreated, the greater the chance of stroke-related brain damage.
If you see any of these signs, Act FAST call 000 (triple zero).
For more information about Stroke visit www.strokefoundation.org.au
