A "sudden, severe headache" causing a "blinding pain unlike anything experienced before" could be a sign of stroke.
The FAST test is widely known thanks to a Public Health England and Stroke Association campaign urging people to 'Act FAST' to improve chances of survival and recovery. Face weakness, arm weakness or numbness, and speech problems are present in most cases of stroke, indicating the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, which kills brain cells. But strokes can occur with different symptoms, meaning some could go undetected until damage is done.
Stroke is the fifth biggest cause of death and disability in the UK, with 1.3 million survivors in the UK, half of whom are dependent on others for daily tasks. Despite one stroke occurring every five minutes, half of people in the North West of England don't realise it's one of the top killers, three quarters don't realise strokes can affect hearing, and two thirds don't realise stroke survivors can have vision problems and fatigue, according to a new survey from the Stroke Association.
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The University of Liverpool's Dr Lauren Hepworth, who researches the impact of strokes on vision problems, said: "Stroke can affect anyone of any age, from any walk of life, at any time. The effects of stroke vary, from those that are very obvious such as physical disability to those that are harder to see, such as problems with vision and fatigue. Stroke research is vital so that we can prevent strokes from happening but if they do, we know the best treatment and care options to allow people to thrive in their life after stroke."
It's important for people to know the signs and symptoms of stroke, "particularly if you live with or care for a person who is in a high-risk group, such as someone who is elderly or has diabetes or high blood pressure", according to the NHS website. The major signs are:
- Face - one side of the face may be drooping and the person may be unable to smile
- Arm - they may be unable to lift both arms in the air because one arm feels weak or numb
- Speech - their speech may be slurred or garbled, and they may be unable to speak or understand what others are saying
- Time to dial 999 immediately if you notice any of these, and go to hospital even if the symptoms disappear
According to the NHS and the Stroke Association, the other signs "you should always take seriously" include:
- Sudden weakness, numbness or paralysis on one side of the body, including legs, hands or feet
- Problems with balance and co-ordination
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Difficulty finding words, speaking in clear sentences, and difficulty understanding what others are saying
- Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes.
- Sudden memory loss or confusion, and dizziness or a sudden fall.
- A sudden, severe headache "resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before"
- Loss of consciousness
The Stroke Association released their study amid calls for "vital support to fund more research into the devastating condition". It said: "Despite the devastating impact of stroke, stroke research is chronically underfunded and receives far less funding than other health conditions that have similar life-long effects."
Juliet Bouverie OBE, the charity's chief executive, said: "Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and while it changes lives in an instant, the brain can adapt and rebuild after stroke. That's why research means everything to our nation's 1.3 million stroke survivors and their families, because of the life-changing impact it could have on their future. Our pioneering research has been at the centre of major breakthroughs that have saved lives and sparked innovation in stroke care and treatment. From laying the foundations for the Act FAST campaign, one of the most successful public health awareness campaigns in England, to funding early research into the emergency stroke treatment thrombectomy (the manual removal of stroke-causing blood clots), many patients have been spared the most devastating effects of stroke as a result of our research.
"Despite stroke still being the fourth biggest killer in the UK, research has helped to more than halve the rate of deaths from stroke over the last three decades. It's absolutely crucial that we continue this progress, but we can't do this without vital funding. Far less is spent 'per survivor' on research into stroke than on research into any other health condition. We would never want to take researchers or money away from other conditions such as cancer, but we do want to replicate the success that cancer research has had, so that we can continue to make breakthroughs in stroke treatment and care.
"Now our focus is on improving life, after stroke strikes. The Stroke Association is the only organisation dedicated to funding research into ongoing rehabilitation for stroke survivors. Our research means everything to stroke survivors and their families. It gives hope for a better recovery, living more independently, a future. We're calling on people to donate where they can to support our research and help give stroke survivors and their families the progress they deserve."
