Countdown: Hewer recalls time he thought he was having a stroke

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If you suspect you or someone else is having a stroke, phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. There are around 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK, and your symptoms will depend on the part of your brain affected and the extent of the damage. Stroke is uncommon in individuals younger than 40. When it does occur, it is often triggered by abnormally high blood pressure.

The Stroke Association warned that the catastrophic event occurs every five minutes in the UK.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says anxiety, depression, and high stress levels are all risk factors.

It adds: “Working long hours and not having much contact with friends, family, or others outside the home are also linked with higher risk of stroke.”

There are also a number of risk factors, including unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as eating unhealthy foods, not getting regular physical activity, drinking alcohol, and using illegal drugs such as cocaine.

The Mayo Clinic says that “knowing your stroke risk factors, following your doctor’s recommendations and adopting a healthy lifestyle” are the best steps you can take to prevent a stroke.

The health site adds that if you’ve had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack, there are measures which might help prevent another stroke.

“The follow-up care you receive in the hospital and afterward also may play a role,” it notes.

In general, healthy lifestyle recommendations include controlling high blood pressure, and healthy lifestyle changes and medications are often used to treat high blood pressure.

The signs and symptoms of a stroke vary from person to person, but usually begin suddenly. The main stroke symptoms include changes to the face. Your face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped.

Signs may also occur on the arms – “the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm”, says the NHS.

Their speech may be slurred or garbled, “or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake” and “they may also have problems understanding what you’re saying to them”, adds the health body.

Call 999 immediately if you notice any of these signs or symptoms.

The Mayo Clinic says that aerobic exercise reduces your risk of stroke in many ways.

Exercise can lower your blood pressure, increase your levels of good cholesterol, and improve the overall health of your blood vessels and heart.

If you have diabetes, you should maintain a good diet. Exercise and losing weight can help you keep your blood sugar in a healthy range.

“If lifestyle factors don’t seem to be enough to control your diabetes, your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication,” adds the Mayo Clinic.

NHLBI says: “It can take weeks, months, or even years to recover from a stroke. Some people recover fully, while others have long-term or lifelong disabilities.”

It adds that after a stroke you may need rehabilitation to help you recover.

Your doctor may recommend strategies to help prevent another stroke, though this will depend on what caused your first stroke.

“It is important to get routine medical care after your stroke,” says NHLBI.

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