Stroke Facts

It is estimated that 150 000 people in the UK alone suffer a stroke.

Every five minutes someone in the UK has a stroke

Anyone can suffer a stroke. Most people affected are people over 65 but young people including children and babies can also suffer

A stroke is the third most common cause of UK deaths

A stroke is the single most common cause of severe disability

250 000 people in the UK live with disabilities cause by stroke

About 10% of people who have had a stroke will have another one in the first year

Of all people who suffer stroke about a third are likely to make a significant recovery within the first month

Around three times more women die from stroke than from breast cancer in the UK

Almost one in four men and one in five women aged 45 can expect to have a stroke if they live to 85

A TIA is a warning sign that must never be ignored. Seek urgent medical attention for assessment and treatment. High-risk TIA patients must be assessed by a specialist within 24 hours of onset of symptoms.

Signs of a stroke appear suddenly and most commonly include one or more of the following:
• Facial weakness
• Arm or leg weakness
• Speech problems
• Visual problems
If signs of stroke only last a few minutes or a few hours, then a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) or mini-stroke may have occurred. 

Stopping smoking can cut the risk of a stroke in half, no matter how long you have smoked or how old you are

Regular physical exercise halves the risk of stroke

High blood pressure is the most common cause of stroke. Medication can be prescribed to help stabilse this and thus decrease your risk of stroke