Scots unaware of stroke symptoms

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A stroke awareness campaign has been launched after researchers found more than a third of people cannot recognise any of the condition's symptoms.

Almost 90,000 Scots are affected by a stroke every year.

However, Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) said it found 34% of Scots were unable to say what happened when someone was suffering a stroke.

The lack of understanding was found to be worst among the over 65s, the age group most likely to be affected.

The charity said 41% of people aged 65 and over did not know any of the symptoms.

Strokes can affect anyone at any time and these findings highlight that much work needs to be done David ClarkCSSS

Strokes - which occur when blood supply to the brain is suddenly stopped - are the main cause of disability in the community with about 90,000 Scots currently affected.

CHSS has launched a radio and poster advertising campaign featuring a brief test that can help identify a stroke victim.

The FAST, or Face Arms and Speech Test, requires an assessment of three symptoms - facial weakness such as a drooping eye or mouth, arm weakness and speech problems.

The charity said that if a person has any of these symptoms it is crucial to call 999.

The test is used by paramedics to diagnose stroke prior to being admitted to hospital and has been introduced in other countries such as Australia and the USA with great success.

'Major obstacle'

The research showed 7% of respondents were completely in the dark as to which part of the body a stroke affects, with 21% of Scots believing it affected the heart or led to chest pain, with the figure rising to 27% among men.

CHSS chief executive David Clark said: "Strokes can affect anyone at any time and these findings highlight that much work needs to be done to improve Scotland's understanding of the symptoms of a stroke.

"It is particularly worrying that so many Scots believe a stroke affects the heart when it's actually the brain it attacks.

"This severe lack of understanding is a major obstacle in an emergency situation."

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "I very much welcome this new campaign by CHSS and hope it will save lives by raising awareness of stroke.

"Great strides have been made in recent years in driving down deaths from stroke, but it is still one of Scotland's big three killers.

"It is really encouraging that FAST has had significant health improvements in other countries across the world and I am hopeful that it will have a similar impact in Scotland."