Two more stroke warning signs to be aware of

Leg weakness and loss of vision

UK researchers have identified two more signs that may indicate someone is having a stroke.

Many people will have seen or heard of the stroke 'FAST' campaign run by the NHS, which asks people to remember three stroke warning signs - facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems.

However, experts at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust want to raise awareness that leg weakness and loss of vision are also strong indicators that you may be having a stroke.

A survey of 1,300 people across Leicestershire found that while most had heard of stroke and FAST symptoms, only 56 per cent thought that leg weakness could indicate stroke, while 44 % considered loss of vision to be a warning sign.

Professor Ross Naylor said: "The FAST campaign was very successful, but it’s important that people know leg weakness and loss of vision are also signs to look out for.

"It's my fear are that many people may not be aware that anyone experiencing one or both of these additional signs, on their own or with one of the already recognised symptoms may be an indicator that they or a loved one is having a stroke and should also seek urgent medical advice.

"It’s really important that people are aware of all five of the signs and they shouldn’t be fooled into thinking that they must be having all five of them at the same time to be experiencing a stroke.

"You might be having a stroke and only suffering one of the five symptoms, however it’s more likely that you will experience one or two signs at the same time."

A stroke is caused when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or cut off, either by a blood clot (ischaemic stroke) or burst blood vessel (haemorrhagic stroke). About eight out of 10 strokes are caused by blood clots.

Each year around 150,000 people have a stroke in the UK, and over 50,000 die from one. Stroke is also the biggest cause of severe disability.

Professor Naylor said: "Whilst the public appear aware of FAST and the three symptoms it highlights, we’ll be working to raise awareness with the public, health professionals and health services locally and nationally to make sure that those people showing any of these five signs get the medical assistance they need promptly."

Stroke warning signs (FAST signs)

• Face: facial weakness - can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
• Arm: does it show weakness? - can the person raise both arms?
• Speech: problems - can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
• Time: time to call 999

Most people don't know signs of mini-stroke

Warning sign for stroke

Most people in the UK are unaware of the symptoms of mini- strokes, new research has found.

Transient ischemic attacks, also known as mini strokes happen when a small blood clot temporarily blocks blood flow to the brain. Although the symptoms are similar to those of a stroke, they usually disappear within 24 hours.

However, without treatment one in five people who have a TIA will go on to have a full stroke in the following month.

In the study, researchers from Oxford University analyzed data from 1,000 patients in the United Kingdom (average age 73) who had a mini-stroke or TIA.

More than two-thirds of patients were unaware they had suffered a mini-stroke stroke and almost one in three delayed seeking medical attention for more than 24 hours. Delaying treatment increases your chance of having a full stroke.

In addition, seventy per cent of patients went to their GP first about their symptoms, instead of calling for an ambulance.

TIA patients were more likely to put off going to a doctor if their balance or speech was normal, if symptoms didn't last long, or if they experienced symptoms on a Friday, a weekend or a holiday researchers said, suggesting many thought their symptoms didn't require emergency medical treatment.

Arvind Chandratheva, a research fellow from the Department of Clinical Neurology at the University of Oxford said the findings "indicate a lack of public awareness that TIA is a medical emergency" and highlight the need for more public education about the symptoms of TIAs.

The findings are published in the journal Stroke.

Stroke is the third biggest cause of death in the UK after heart disease and cancer, and the biggest single cause of severe disability. Each year, more than 110,000 people in England alone have a stroke.