RA
1
1
Serious severity
· Neurology
Stroke
Brain attack · Blocked or bleeding artery
Brain cells start dying within minutes of losing blood supply. Clot-busting drugs and clot-retrieval are time-limited — every minute counts.
At a glance
- Prevalence
- Major killer over 60
- Typical age
- Risk rises after 55
- Outlook
- Time-critical emergency
- System
- Brain
Reviewed by a verified Neurology doctor
What causes it
Causes
- Hypertension
- Atrial fibrillation
- Diabetes, smoking
- Carotid artery disease
- High cholesterol
How it feels
Symptoms & effects
- Sudden face droop
- One-sided arm weakness
- Slurred speech
- Loss of vision or balance
- Worst headache of life (haemorrhagic)
How it’s treated
Treatment & cure
- Call 108 immediately — time is brain
- CT/MRI to type stroke
- Clot-busting drug within 4.5 hours
- Mechanical thrombectomy up to 24 hours
- Rehab — physio, speech, OT
Staying ahead
Prevention
- Control BP under 130/80
- Treat AF with anticoagulants
- Quit smoking; lose belly fat
- Statin if indicated
- Daily 30-min cardio
Do’s
- Remember FAST: Face, Arm, Speech, Time
- Call ambulance, do not drive
- Note exact time of onset
- Do rehab consistently
Don’ts
- Wait it out
- Drive to hospital
- Give food/water if mouth droops
- Skip BP meds after a 'good' week
See a doctor immediately if
Symptoms are sudden or severe, getting worse despite home care, or interfering with sleep, work or daily life. Don’t self-diagnose from the internet — book a verified clinician below.
Top specialists
See all neurology doctors Top 4 doctors for Stroke
Ranked by patient rating, years of experience and review volume. All verified by MediConsult’s clinical team.
RS
2
2
BS
3
3
PP
4
4
Related conditions
Disclaimer ·
This article is educational and reviewed by clinicians, but it cannot replace an in-person assessment.
Medication doses, prevention advice and treatment choices vary by person. Always confirm with a doctor before acting on anything here.