Ridley & Hall invites friends, families and communities to show their support for people, who have been affected by a stroke and to raise awareness of this condition, so that it can be prevented and treated in a timely manner.  As a Clinical Negligence lawyer, Daxa Patel of Ridley & Hall comes across clients who have been left with life changing health issues because their stroke was not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke is a very serious life threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.  This is obviously a medical emergency and urgent treatment is absolutely critical.

Symptoms of a Stroke

The main symptoms of a stroke can be remembered with the word F.A.S.T.

• Face – The face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped.
• Arms – The person with a suspected stroke, may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm.
• Speech – Their speech may be slurred or garbled or the person may not be able to talk at all.
• Time – It is critical to call 999 immediately if you spot anyone with these symptoms.

So what causes a stroke?

Like all organs, the brain needs oxygen and nutrients to function properly.  If the supply of blood is restricted or stops, brain cells begin to die, leading to brain injury, disability or even death.

There are two main causes of stroke:-

• Ischaemic – Where the blood supply is stopped because of a blood clot. This usually is the case with 85% of the patients.
• Haemorrhagic – This is where a weakened blood vessel supplying blood to the brain bursts.

The minor strokes are Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIA’s), where the blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted.

So what can increase the risk of having a stroke?

According to the NHS, patients with certain conditions are more prone to have a stroke:-

• High blood pressure;
• High cholesterol;
• Arterial fibrillation diabetes.

Treatment and recovery

If detected in a timely manner, treatment usually is by way of medication to dissolve the blood clot or to reduce blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels, if appropriate.

Surgery may also be required to treat brain swelling and reduce the risk of further bleeding, in cases of a hemorrhagic stroke.

In terms of recovery, sometimes people are left with long-term problems, with often one side of the body is affected, which means there is a functional restriction.  Sometimes there can be speech impediments.

A healthy diet, taking exercise and not smoking and drinking alcohol in moderation. However, if in doubt it is always advisable to seek prompt medical attention as prompt treatment impacts on the outcome for not only the patient but also their families.

Helpful advice and guidance can be found at www.nhs.uk and / or www.stroke.org.uk.

To avoid problems after a stroke or to prevent the long term consequences of this debilitating disease, it is important to seek early medical attention, so as to improve the recovery and survival rate.

Daxa Patel is a Clinical Negligence Partner at Ridley & Hall.

Daxa Patel Partner – Clinical Negligence and Litigation