World Stroke Day 2024
One in four adults will have a stroke in their lifetime, and it can happen to anyone, anywhere at anytime.
However, sometime these symptoms can often mean there is something else that needs medical treatment. It's therefore vital that you're seen urgently if you're concerned you may be suffering from symptoms of a stroke.
As a result of this, it’s essential for people to have the understanding and awareness of the signs and the risk factors in association with this.
In conjunction with World Stroke Day, this article is to provide people with what to look out for if you consider that someone is having a stroke and the actions that need to be put into place to assist them.
As medical negligence solicitors at Irwin Mitchell, we deal with a number of cases, where the signs of a stroke are often missed or wrongly diagnosed and by the time the diagnosis is made, it can be too late.
It's also essential that it's not assumed just because you have a symptom that you have are suffering a stroke, but it's important to know when something isn't right and when to seek urgent medical treatment. Don't be put off contacting medics when you're concerned that something serious may be wrong.
FAST
This acronym is a simple message that can help people remember the most common signs of a stroke and the importance of acting as quickly as possible:
F - Face drooping: One side of the face may become numb or look to be drooping. A common technique to check this, is to ask the person if they can smile. Check if the smile looks to be uneven.
A - Arm weakness: One arm may numb or seem to be weak. A common technique is to ask the person to raise both arms to see if one arm drifts downward.
S - Speech difficulty: A person’s speech may become slurred or you may have difficulty in understanding them. A common technique is to get the person to repeat a simple phrase a number of times and to listen out for any speech abnormalities.
T - Time to call for an ambulance: If you or someone else is experiencing any of these symptoms, the next step is to call an ambulance immediately. Time is crucial in the treatment of a stroke, and rapid response can help to minimise the potential damage caused by a stroke.
Misdiagnosis
Strokes can typically present with focal neurological deficits including speech disturbance and limb weakness, consistent with vascular territory involved.
However, in some cases, this typical presentation can mimic other life-threatening diagnoses, one being viral encephalitis (VE), the inflammation of the brain Parenchyma (tissue) caused by a virus.
Symptoms of VE include a fever, seizures, confusion and deterioration. This is why it's so important for the awareness to be raised about the signs of a stroke, so that the affected person can be provided treatment as soon as possible, but also those with other concerning symptoms seek urgent medical treatment so that the cause of the issue is determined.
How we can help
Through our work at Irwin Mitchell, we help families navigate their way through life of their loved ones who have suffered a stroke. We help them investigate their concerns relating to the treatment their family members may have received, whether this be failing to recognise the signs of a stroke, failing to diagnose the stroke, and failing to deal and treat a stroke in a timely manner before deterioration.
Remember if in doubt, get it checked out, the importance is not about whether you meet all the criteria it’s about knowing when you are concerned something is wrong, and ensuring you seek medical treatment.
Our team at Irwin Mitchell are available to contact should you have any concerns regarding whether appropriate treatment has been given to you or your loved ones. We can advise you on the most appropriate way forward and can determine if you have a legal claim for damages to pursue.
Irwin Mitchell has access to various rehabilitation for clients who are pursuing a claim, which can support those who live and are affected by a stroke. Find out more at the dedicated section on our website.
