Stroke - facts and figures

•  The cost of stroke to the NHS is estimated to be over £2.3 billion
• The total cost of stroke care will rise in real terms by around 30 per cent by the year 2023
• Stroke patients occupy around 20 per cent of all acute hospital beds and 25 per cent of long term beds
• Of every 16 stroke patients admitted to a general hospital, there will be one extra death compared with a co-ordinated Stroke Unit.

What is a stroke?

A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks an artery which is carrying blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding within or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, the brain cells are deprived of oxygen and other nutrients, causing some cells to become damaged and others to die.

The effects of stroke

Some strokes are fatal while others cause permanent or temporary disabilities. Around a third of people who have a stroke die within a year, a third are left with serious disabilities and the remainder make a good recovery.

Who is at risk?

Stroke can affect anyone at any age, although some people are at higher risk than others, including those: · With hypertension (high blood pressure) · Who have had transient ischaemic attacks (mini-strokes), heart attacks or who suffer from atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), angina or atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart beats) · Who have diabetes · Who are of Afro-Caribbean descent or from the South Asia continent · Who have a close relative who died from stroke · Who smoke, are physically inactive, who drink excessively or go on drinking binges.

Reducing the risk

It's estimated that about 40 per cent of strokes could be prevented by regular blood pressure checks, treatment for hypertension and taking steps to improve overall health, such as: · Giving up smoking · Losing any excess weight · Getting regular physical exercise · Keeping alcohol intake to within recommended limits · Eating more fruit and vegetables · Eating less salt and fatty foods

About the Stroke Association

The Stroke Association is a national charity which provides practical support to people who have had strokes, their families and carers. We campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society. We run telephone helplines, provide publications and welfare grants, and offer information and education services around the country. We also fund and promote research which aims to increase knowledge of stroke prevention and treatment.

We are indebted to the Stroke Association for their help in compiling this section.