Sarah Heathcote is a non-medical consultant in stroke working at Salford Royal’s hyperacute stroke unit, and this stroke awareness month she is sharing a a few handy tips and information about stroke, its symptoms and more.
“The most common signs of a stroke is weakness in one side of the arm, arms or legs, facial droop or some speech difficulties, slurred speech or not being able to speak and get the words out properly. Also, if you feel uncoordinated, dizzy or unsteady on your feet and you're unable to walk properly, these can all be signs too.
“The quickest way to remember the most common signs of stroke is FAST, which stands for Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech slurred, Time to call 999.
“It's always good to seek advice and call 999 if you think you or someone else is having a stroke.
“When it comes to age, you may be surprised to hear that stroke can happen to anyone and I think people need to remember that it's not an old person's disease. There are a lot of younger people that are having strokes now. This is because of lifestyle choices, diet, smoking, alcohol and recreational drug-taking, because they all increase the risk of stroke. Nobody is immune to having a stroke."
Stay tuned to our social media and website throughout May to find out more about stroke and Salford Royal’s amazing stroke service.
