DATA from the early phase of the Covid-19 pandemic show that admissions to hospital for stroke fell in the first wave, a 13 per cent drop from March to July 2020.
And experts believe people were put off seeking help for stroke during the pandemic.
Figures from Public Health England (PHE) show the average yearly stroke related deaths for all ages between 2017-2019 is 3,073 in the West Midlands, a rate of 54.7 per 100,000 population.
Stroke is a medical emergency and anyone experiencing symptoms should seek urgent help. Early treatment not only saves lives but results in a greater chance of a better recovery, as well as a likely reduction in permanent disability from stroke.
Now PHE, supported by the Stroke Association, is relaunching the Act F.A.S.T. campaign to remind people of the symptoms of stroke and why urgently calling 999 is vital in saving lives.
Stroke is a time sensitive condition which means that any hesitancy and delay in getting treatment kills brain cells and has sadly and unnecessarily proven to be fatal in the early phase of the pandemic.
Think and act F.A.S.T., the signs of stroke are:
Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
Arms – can they raise both their arms and keep them there?
Speech – is their speech slurred?
Time – time to call 999/are they having speech difficulties?
Dr Lola Abudu of PHE in the West Midlands, said: “Stroke is a medical emergency and is still one of the leading causes of death in England.
“Each year in the West Midlands, around 3,000 lives are lost because of stroke, that’s why it’s vital people know how to spot the signs and call 999 as soon as possible.
“The most common signs of stroke are changes to the face, arms and speech – acting fast and getting treatment will help save lives and prevent people from severe disability.
“Even if you only spot one sign of stroke, you should call 999. Sometimes, a stroke can be very mild, so if you have any concerns about any early signs whatsoever, call an ambulance immediately – don’t wait until there is a second potentially more fatal stroke.
“The NHS is open and safe; the hospital will want to see anyone with stroke symptoms as soon as possible, so don’t delay and call 999.”
Around 1.9 million nerve cells in the brain are lost every minute that a stroke is left untreated which can result in slurred speech and paralysis.
If left untreated, a stroke can result in permanent disability or death.
There are around 100,000 strokes a year in the UK – at least one stroke every five minutes and sadly they cause about 34,000 deaths per year.
Stroke is also the fourth single leading cause of death in the UK and the single largest cause of complex disability.
Black people are twice as likely to have a stroke than white people.
On average, people of black African, black Caribbean and South Asian descent in the UK have strokes at an earlier age.
With Covid-19 disproportionately affecting these groups, there’s an even greater need to ensure that they aren’t being affected by other conditions. The campaign includes specific activity targeted at communities from ethnic minorities.
