Stroke

Stroke

Local support and information

The Family and Carer Support Service (for sufferers of stroke)

The Family and Carer Support Service is a visiting service that provides support and practical information to people who have had a stroke and their families and carers. The service can also help people who live alone. The service is free and is run by The Stroke Association on behalf of Kirklees Council. Stroke helpline: 0845 3033 100

Family and Carer Support Co-ordinators for Kirklees
The Stroke Association
The Coach House
11 Owler Ings Road
Brighouse HD6 1EJ
Tel: 01484 720846
Email: kirklees@stroke.org.uk

The Stroke Association Regional Centre

The Stroke Association provides information and support for people following stroke. In some areas we have community based services such as communication support, family and carer support and stroke health promotion. We also have a national helpline which anyone can contact for advice on 0845 3033100. We can also provide training and support for organisations who deal with stroke. The helpline and the regional office is staffed Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Visitors can call into the office. Please ring for an appointment. Website: www.stroke.org.uk

For more information, contact:
Information Officer
Miss Catherine Griggs
The Stroke Association
Unit 7, Killingbeck Court
York Road
Leeds LS14 6FD
Tel: 0113 2019780		  

Stroke

A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disturbed. It is an emergency and you must phone 999 for an ambulance and urgent medical attention. There is a range of treatments for different types of strokes, so the quicker help arrives, the better the chance of recovery.

You can recall the main signs and symptoms of a stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) by remembering to Act F.A.S.T.: Face-Arms-Speech-Time:

Face. The face may have fallen on one side, the person may not be able to smile or their mouth or eye may have drooped.

Arm: The person with suspected stroke may not be able to raise both arms and keep them there because of arm weakness or numbness.

Speech: There may be slurred speech.

Time: It is time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.

Strokes are the leading cause of severe adult disability in the UK and the third most common cause of death after cancer and coronary heart disease. But they are largely preventable. Strokes are most common in people over 65, but can happen at any age.
Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or 'mini-stroke' has similar symptoms to stroke but these symptoms are resolved faster and the person usually will get better within 24 hours. The TIA may be a warning sign of a more serious stroke and always requires further immediate medical attention.

Stroke causes damage to parts of the brain causing brain cells to die. Although they don't grow back, other parts of the brain may develop new connections. This process is thought to explain why recovery after a stroke is possible. Living parts of the brain gradually take over the function of parts that have been damaged and died. It's a gradual process that may take months or years.
Rehabilitation from a specialist team will stimulate and speed up this process.

Rehabilitation is designed to help regain abilities lost through stroke, such as helping people who've had a stroke to talk or walk again, or to use an arm that they have lost the use of. It also aims to help people find ways to cope with disabilities that are slow to recover from, for example, by learning to write with the other hand.

It also aims to help people resume activities of daily life such as dressing, cooking and shopping, and it aims to give social, emotional and practical support after leaving hospital.
If you've had a stroke, you'll be assessed to see what you need for your rehabilitation. If you had a mild stroke that you recover quickly from, you may not need any rehabilitation.

For most people, recovery will be fastest in the first few weeks after a stroke, although some people will continue to improve for many months. Rehabilitation will usually be stopped once there doesn't seem to be any further improvement, but there should be a reassessment once a year to see if further rehabilitation would help.