Stroke

Key facts

• A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, either by a clot blocking an artery (ischaemic stroke, roughly 85% of cases) or by a burst blood vessel (haemorrhagic stroke).
• Brain cells begin to die within minutes, so recognising symptoms fast and calling emergency services is critical.
• Use the FAST test: Face drooping on one side, Arm weakness, Speech that is slurred or garbled, Time to call emergency services.
• After an ischaemic stroke or TIA, antiplatelet medicines such as clopidogrel, plus heart and blood pressure control, reduce the risk of a second event.

Recognising the warning signs

The FAST test is the fastest way to recognise a stroke in progress: face drooping on one side, arm weakness, speech that is slurred or garbled, and time to call emergency services the moment any of these appear. Less obvious signs are just as important to know: sudden loss of vision in one eye, a severe headache with no clear cause, and a sudden loss of balance or coordination. Because brain cells begin to die within minutes of blood flow being cut off, treatment given faster preserves more brain function, so any of these symptoms warrants an immediate emergency call rather than waiting to see if they pass.

Reducing the risk of another stroke

After an ischaemic stroke or a TIA (transient ischaemic attack, sometimes called a mini-stroke), the focus shifts to preventing a second event. Antiplatelet medicines, particularly clopidogrel, reduce the tendency of blood to clot inside arteries, lowering the chance of a repeat blockage. Blood pressure control sits at the centre of long-term management as well; the heart and blood pressure category covers the range of agents used alongside antiplatelet therapy to manage the underlying vascular risk.

When to see a doctor

Anyone who has had a stroke or a TIA should get emergency care immediately if new neurological symptoms appear, even if they seem to pass quickly. Symptoms that come and go can signal an imminent second event, and waiting to see if they resolve on their own risks losing the window where treatment is most effective.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.