Every year an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.
The Stroke Association
British Heart Foundation
10 things you should know about stroke
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Every five minutes someone in the UK has a stroke, adding up to an estimated 150,000 people a year |
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A stroke is a brain attack. A stroke happens due to a clot or a bleed in the brain, which causes brain cells to die |
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Each year a quarter of all strokes in the UK happen to people under 65. Around 10,000 happen to people under 30 and about 1,000 children and babies |
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The most common signs of stroke happening include:
- Facial weakness
- Arm weakness
- Speech problems
- Visual disturbance
These signs may only last a few hours (called a transient ischaemic attack – TIA) but must not be ignored. |
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A stroke is an emergency. If you see the signs of stroke – Facial weakness, Arm weakness, Speech problems, it’s time to call 999. Early treatment saves lives and increases the chances of a better recovery. |
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Stroke is the leading cause of sever disability and the third biggest killer in the UK. |
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Almost one in four men and one in five women aged 45 can expect to have a stroke if they live to 85. |
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Around three times as many women die from stroke than breast cancer in the UK. |
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9. |
Eating healthily, taking regular exercise, not smoking and ensuring blood pressure is normal can all help to prevent stroke. |
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The Stroke Association is the only charity solely concerned with helping people of all ages affected by stroke across the UK. They are working to create a world where there are fewer strokes and all those touched by stroke get the help they need.
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The Stroke Association |
