Stroke

Q. What is a Stroke?
A. A stroke is a brain attack. For your brain to function it needs a constant blood supply which provides vital nutrients and oxygen to the brain cells. A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off and brain cells are damaged or die.

Q. How will a Stroke affect me?
A. A stroke can damage both mind and body. Strokes affect people in different ways, depending on the part of the brain that is affected, how widespread the damage is to the brain and how healthy the person was before the stroke. A person may become weak, numb, paralysed on one side of the body, they may slur their speech and find it difficult to understand speech or find words. Some people loose their sight or have blurred vision and other people become confused or unsteady.

Strokes can damage:
•  Bodily functions
•  Thought processes
•  Our ability to learn
•  How we feel
•  How we communicate

Q. Who can I contact for information on Stroke?
A. For more information visit the Stroke website at http://www.stroke.org.uk/information/index.html or call the Stroke Helpline on 0303 3033 100

Q. Will I have another Stroke?
A. It is not possible to tell who will or will not have another stroke but you can be advised on ways to reduce your risk of it happening again in the future.
Individual risk factors can be discussed such as diet, smoking, alcohol, exercise, medication, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, HRT, stress.

Q. I have been diagnosed with Stroke, when can I drive again?
A. This will depend on the type of licence held, the type of stroke you had and how recently you had it; however these general rules apply:

•  You cannot drive for a minimum of 4 weeks and must seek medical
consent before driving.
•  You must inform your insurance company.
•  You must notify the DVLA if you have residual impairment after 4
weeks.
•  Some people may need to have a driving assessment prior to being
told they can or cannot drive again.