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What is a stroke?
A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brain cells.
An ischaemic stroke is caused by a blockage cutting off blood supply to the brain.
A haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in or around the brain.
A transient ischaemic attack or TIA is also known as a mini-stroke. It is the same as a stroke, except that the symptoms only last for a short time. This is because the blockage that stops the blood getting to your brain is temporary.
More information is available on the Stroke Association website. You can also find out more information about different types of strokes on the Newcastle Hospitals website.
Possible causes of stroke
- Age – as we get older, our arteries naturally become narrower and harder. They are also more likely to become clogged with fatty material, known as atherosclerosis
- Medical conditions – such as high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and high cholesterol
- Lifestyle factors – the way we live has a big impact on our risk of stroke. Things such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight and eating unhealthy foods can damage blood vessels, increase your blood pressure and make your blood more likely to clot
- Family history – If a close relative has had a stroke, your risk is likely to be higher
- Ethnicity – Strokes happen more often in people who are black or from South Asian families
Stroke Statistics
- 100,000 people have a stroke in the UK each year (1 every 5 minutes)
- There are 73,000 stroke survivors in the North East and North Cumbria (1.3 million in the UK)
- Over a third of strokes in the UK between 2007 and 2016 were ages 40 to 69 (NICE 2023)
- Around 400 strokes a year in the UK are childhood strokes (Brain Research UK)
- Nearly a quarter of strokes occur under the age of 65
- Every year 10,000 people under the age of 55 have a stroke in the UK (Different Strokes)
- Stroke is the single biggest cause of severe disability
Stroke symptoms: how to identify a stroke
Suspect a stroke? Act FAST and call 999.
F – Facial weakness
A – Arm weakness
S – Speech problems
T – Time to call 999
Don’t wait and always call 999 if you see any one of these signs. Every second counts when you’re having a stroke.
The Stroke Association has more information to help understand the signs of a stroke and what to do.
Effects of a stroke
The effects of having a stroke can include:
- Physical
- Communication
- Tiredness & fatigue
- Problems with memory & thinking (cognitive problems)
- Behaviour changes
- Emotional changes
- Hallucinations & delusions
Glossary
To learn more stroke terminology, take a look at the Stroke Association’s Glossary of Terms.
Further information
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There have been a number of Trusts that have been involved in developing the content on these pages. Thank you to all of those who have helped shape these resources for patients. They include:
- County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
- Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
- North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Return to top of this page (Stroke Therapy: Life After Stroke main page.
You can also visit the pages below for more information:
Stroke Services Information
How to reduce your risk of another stroke
Emotional changes after stroke
Eating and drinking difficulties (dysphagia)
Communication difficulties
Memory and thinking
Physical effects of stroke
Being independent
Advice and support for carers