World Stroke Day: Leila’s Story

Somebody suffers a stroke every five minutes – that is more than 100,000 people in the UK having a stroke each year.

And, with more than 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK, it’s important for people to know the warning signs and how they may be able to prevent a stroke from happening.

Whether you’re a carer and are supporting stroke survivors, or perhaps you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, here’s everything you need to know this World Stroke Day.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is when blood supply stops flowing to a part of your brain, killing brain cells and affecting speech and movement. A stroke requires urgent medical attention – it can be life-threatening, and the impact is dependent on the type of stroke and how big the damaged area is.

There are three types of stroke, that affect people in various ways and with differing risk factors.

Ischaemic stroke > this is caused by a blocked artery or blood vessel cutting off blood supply. In fact, 85% of strokes are due to a blockage in the brain.

Haemorrhagic stroke > 15% of strokes are caused due to bleeding in or around the brain, called haemorrhagic strokes.

Transient ischaemic attack > A TIA is also knows as a ‘mini stroke’, caused by a blood clot that moves away, causing the symptoms to only last a short while.

What are the symptoms of a stroke?

The symptoms of strokes are all largely similar – some lasting a few minutes to a few hours, while others can last much longer and can be extremely detrimental, and often fatal.

The easiest way to remember the main symptoms is the word FAST; face, arms, speech and time to call 999.

Face weakness is one of the most common symptoms of a stroke and in particular, one side of the face often droops or falls, making it hard to move.

People experiencing a stroke may have difficulty lifting up both arms whilst keeping them there without a feeling of weakness of numbness, as well as sounding confused or slurring words.

Other stroke symptoms can include:

• A feeling of weakness or numbness down one side of your body
• Blurred vision or loss of sight
• Difficulty speaking or finding words to think or speak
• Memory loss and/or confusion
• Falling over and feeling dizzy
• Headaches

Whilst some symptoms may come and go, or you think may have disappeared, it is important to act fast and call 999 immediately.

What causes a stroke?

As mentioned above, the cause of a stroke can be dependent on the type of stroke a person has. However, there are also a few other factors that can increase a person’s risk of a stroke, including:

• Aged 50+
• You have sickle cell disease
• Living an unhealthy lifestyle
• You have migraines
• Taking the combined contraceptive pill
• You have high cholesterol
• Being pregnant and having pre-eclampisa, or having just had a baby
• You have high blood pressure
• You have diabetes
• You have irregular and fast heartbeats

To reduce the risk of having a stroke, people should strive to quit smoking, eat a balanced diet, reduce alcohol intake and exercise regularly.

Leila’s Story

At Radis, we support and care for people with various health needs and conditions, including stroke survivors.

Leila, a resident at West End Village Extra Care service is not just a stroke survivor, but a cancer survivor, too. Leila then suffered a stroke which she says completely changed her life.

She said, “It has affected my speech and I struggle to get words out, as well as now having to walk with a stick, leg brace and boots. I used to work as a cleaner, but my stroke stopped me from working.”

Leila used to live in a house, but realised she couldn’t move around safely, which is when she moved to West End Village. She said:

“Living here is brilliant – someone comes in and does my hair and I get help with personal care, food preparation and medication. And, I get to go downstairs and get involved with the entertainment.”

At Radis, we encourage our residents to be as independent as possible whilst helping and supporting them in whatever way they require.

We’ve worked with Leila’s family to put in a referral for an electric mobility scooter due to the difficulties she faces walking long distances.

At Radis, we understand that everybody has different needs and abilities, therefore we work closely to support them in whatever way we can, while providing further opportunities to socialise, get involved and to feel a sense of independence and freedom.

Post stroke care

If you or a loved one have suffered a stroke, you may have a very fortunate and speedy recovery.

However for others, life after a stroke may have changed forever and professional care may be required on a short-term or long-term basis. A stroke care plan can be tailored to each and every individual.

For more information on Radis and the services on offer, please visit: www.radis.co.uk.