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A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.

Strokes are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is essential.



The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word FAST:

  • Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you're saying to them.



There are 2 main causes of strokes:

  • haemorrhagic – where a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts

There's also a related condition called a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), where the blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted.

This causes what's known as a mini-stroke. It can last a few minutes or persist up to 24 hours.


Seek medical advice as soon as possible, even if your symptoms get better.

Certain conditions increase the risk of having a stroke, including:



In some cases, procedures may be required to remove blood clots. Surgery may also be required to treat brain swelling and reduce the risk of further bleeding if this was the cause of your stroke.


Some people need a long period of rehabilitation before they can recover their former independence, while many never fully recover and need ongoing support after their stroke.


These services help the person recovering from a stroke learn or relearn the skills they need to live at home independently.

Some people will continue to need some form of care or help with their daily activities.

For example, a care worker may come to the person's home to help with washing and dressing, or to provide companionship.

Read about:

If you're recovering from a stroke or caring for someone who is, it may be useful to read a guide to care and support.



Coronavirus advice

If you have had a stroke and you're worried about coronavirus, you can get advice about coronavirus and stroke from the Stroke Association.

You can significantly reduce your risk of having a stroke by:

If you have a condition that increases your risk of a stroke, it's important to manage it effectively. For example, taking medicine you have been prescribed to lower high blood pressure or cholesterol levels.


Stroke does not just affect adults. Every year around 400 children in the UK have a stroke, according to the Stroke Association.

Read more about childhood stroke on the Stroke Association website.


Social care and support guide

If you:

  • care for someone regularly because they're ill, elderly or disabled (including family members)
