Skip to main content
Identifying Stroke Signs

Can You Identify the Signs of Stroke Fast?

|

Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in Australia, killing almost 10,000 Australians each year.  Every year more than 50,000 people in Australia have a stroke – that’s around one-hundred Australians experiencing stroke every day.  The good news is 4 in 5 strokes are preventable and the odds of survival are much higher if help comes quickly. Knowing the risk factors will empower you to reduce your risk of stroke and If you know the signs of a stroke, you might just save someone’s life.

Types of Stroke

There are several types of stroke. They all involve disrupted blood flow in the brain that leads to brain damage. Here are the most common types of stroke:

  • Ischemic Stroke. This stroke occurs when a clot blocks blood supply to the brain, causing brain cells to lose oxygen. If not treated immediately, this lack of oxygen can cause brain cells to die.
  • Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA). This is a type of ischemic stroke, but TIA involves only a temporary blood clot that goes away on its own. A TIA is a warning that a bigger, more serious stroke may be on the way.
  • Haemorrhagic stroke. This involves bleeding in the brain rather than a clot. Haemorrhagic stroke causes include aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations. These are weak blood vessels. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the most common cause of haemorrhagic stroke.
  • Silent stroke. This type of stroke has no noticed symptoms and is often identified long after it occurs via MRI. Silent strokes increase the risk of future stroke, and whilst they have no immediate impact, the impact builds up over time and can result in cognitive decline, and dementia.

What are the Signs of a Stroke?

Signs of a stroke can include the following:

  • Sudden weakness on one side of the body. This includes facial drooping, weakness in the arms and legs, and numbness.
  • Sudden slurred speech. This might also include confusion and difficulty understanding others.
  • Sudden changes in vision. This can occur in one or both eyes.
  • Sudden loss of coordination. This might include dizziness, feeling unbalanced, and trouble walking.
  • Sudden severe headache. Many people describe this headache as the worst headache they’ve ever had. This headache may cause vomiting.

What to do if Someone is Having a Stroke

The Stroke Foundation recommends the use of the acronym FAST to identify that someone is having a stroke:

FAST Signs of a Stroke:

  • Face drooping. One side of the face may droop or become numb. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
  • Arm weakness. One arm may become weak or numb. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • Speech. Speech may become slurred and difficult to understand. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is speech slurred or garbled?
  • Time to call. If you observe any of these signs, call 000 immediately. Call even if the signs go away. Check the time so you know exactly when symptoms began.

Acting quickly in the event of a stroke is essential. The chances of survival are greater when emergency treatment begins quickly. People who receive treatment within three hours of symptoms starting have better outcomes than those who don’t.

If someone is having a stroke, call an ambulance. Never drive them to the hospital yourself. First responders can begin life-saving treatment and perform CPR on the way to Emergency and ensure that diagnosis and treatment begin immediately upon hospital arrival.

What are the Risk Factors for a Stroke?

Risk factors for stroke include:

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Smoking
  • Advanced age

Women have some unique risk factors for stroke. These include:

  • History of high blood pressure during pregnancy.
  • Using certain types of birth control, especially if used while smoking.

Many risk factors for stroke are manageable such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Management strategies include a healthy diet, exercise, and medication. If you or a loved one has any of these conditions, make a plan to see a doctor so you can learn how to manage them. If you or your loved one smokes, consider quitting or cutting back.

Advancing age is also a risk factor due to blood vessel damage which occurs through the ageing process.  It is possible however to limit that damage through healthy lifestyle choices.

If you are at a significant risk for stroke, doctors commonly prescribe a low dose of aspirin to reduce the risk.

Recovering from a Stroke

If you or your loved one has suffered a stroke, it can be a challenging medical event to cope with and recover from. Patients must simultaneously overcome physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. Many stroke survivors report frustrations with the recovery process. Having a professional care team can help you take a proactive and informed approach to post-stroke care to ease stress.

1 in 4 stroke survivors will have another stroke within 5 years. Up to 80% of second ischemic strokes may be preventable. Accessing care provides the support in reducing the risk of future stroke. Care providers can help by:

  • Preparing healthy meals that lower cholesterol and keep blood sugar under control
  • Assisting with exercise to improve blood pressure
  • Scheduling and attending medical appointments to manage medical conditions

So now you have all of the essential knowledge about strokes including how to lower your risk of stroke, how to respond if you witness a stroke, and how to support a loved one through stoke recovery.

References

Let us help you

Home Care Assistance Sydney City and East can help. Call Our Local Team today for your complimentary in-home assessment.

Call Your Local Team

Contact the team at Home Care Assistance Sydney City and East anytime
(02) 9158 3880 or by email at infosydeast@homecareassistance.com

Jeremy is a really good man, he has fantastic family values and cares for everyone. I would definitely recommend Health Care Assistance to help you and your family
This is the best home care company in Australia !
As a former employee of this company working in the office and as a Carer, I cannot recommend this company enough. They genuinely care for their clients and employees. I loved working there with... Jeremy and his staff, but unfortunately had to leave due to relocation. I would not hesitate to recommend HCA Syd East to all clients who are aged and/or with disabilities to engage this service provider for all their vital services to enable you to live and enjoy staying in your own home and to be as independent as possible. Jeremy and his staff really listen to your needs, goals and aspirations and do their very best to match you up with a compatible and suitably qualified Carer. Nothing is too much trouble.read more
As We are the Family With kid experienced to stay by this agent, I can not recommend this company enough. They genuinely care for their clients, whenever I asked for help a person I contact with... always try her best to help that I most thankful for her.read more
Home Care Assistance run by Jeremy and Samantha, a lovely couple with a caring attitude and a family themselves. After bringing my Mum to Sydney and needing expert help immediately I found HCA online... and liked their story. As soon as they walked in our door, we knew we were safe. I liked the fact that there was direct contact with the owners and nothing was too much trouble. The carers selected for Mum were perfect for her and very capable. Unfortunately Mum has had to move to a nursing home now but I would happily recommend this wonderful business to anyone with aged care needs.read more
Great team
Very happy with this Company looking after my Home Care Package. Very friendly staff and always available to arrange things. Also the home care and help in garden is excellent and I couldn't do... without them.read more