Stroke treatment is extremely specialised which means it is important anyone suffering from a stroke is taken to their nearest unit quickly.
There is a dedicated stroke unit at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. Here, we have specialist clinicians and equipment for diagnosis and treatment.
Why is it so important to seek urgent medical attention in the event of a stroke?
The faster a suspected stroke is treated, the better chances of recovery or minimising damage.
The window for seeking the most effective treatment is extremely short and so it is essential to act quickly and call an ambulance.
One such treatment is a procedure called Thrombolysis which means breaking up blood clots, and in some cases this can be with use of a special “clot busting” drug – hence the need to attend a specialist unit as quickly as possible.
A “stroke” is an interruption of blood flow to the brain.
When this happens, braincells which rely on blood, may be damaged or die. This can lead to permanent brain damage or even death.
There are two types of Stroke:
- Ischaemic stroke
This is the most common and is often caused by a blood clot or a piece of fatty material blocking an artery.
- Haemorrhagic stroke
When the walls of a blood vessel in the brain become weak and burst, causing bleeding and brain damage.
A “mini stroke” – called a Transient Ischaemic Attack – is similar to a stroke and acts as a vital warning sign. The brain’s bloody supply is temporarily affected which means risk of permanent damage is low.
A stroke can happen to anyone at any age, but your risk may increase if:
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you're over 50 years old
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you're from a Black or South Asian background
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you have sickle cell disease (SCD)
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you have an unhealthy lifestyle
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you have migraines
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you take the combined contraceptive pill
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you're pregnant and have pre-eclampsia
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you've just had a baby
Certain conditions also increase the risk of stroke. These include:
