• May 2025 Newsletter: Facts About Stroke

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Facts About Stroke

May is Stroke Awareness Month, an ideal time to bring attention to the fourth leading cause of death in the UK.

Each year, nearly 100,000 people in the UK experience a stroke. The UK has more than 1.3 million stroke survivors, and many of them are living with a stroke-related disability. Fortunately, people can take steps to reduce their stroke risk. And, by recognising the signs of a stroke and getting immediate treatment, they can also reduce their chances of developing stroke-related disabilities and complications.

At Health Edco, we create innovative cardiovascular health education models and materials that are ideal resources to explain how strokes occur and the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle for stroke prevention. Designed for patient and student education, our products are the perfect teaching tools to reinforce the message of stroke awareness, including warning signs that require immediate action.

Read on to learn more about stroke and our essential health teaching tools for stroke education and prevention.




Types of Stroke

Sometimes called a “brain attack”, a stroke is a serious medical emergency. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced. Within minutes, brain cells in the area begin to die without the oxygen and nutrients they need to function.

There are two main types of strokes. More than 85 percent of strokes are ischaemic strokes. An ischaemic stroke occurs when a blood clot narrows or blocks a blood vessel in the brain. Clots can result from fatty deposits (plaque) that build up in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. Clots can also come from other parts of the body, typically the heart, and travel through the bloodstream to become clogged in brain arteries.

Coming with a two-sided, explanatory tent card, our Deadly Obstruction™ Artery Model is a great way to show how the artery damage resulting from high cholesterol, plaque buildup, and blood clots can lead to an ischaemic stroke. The enlarged, sculpted artery model depicts a narrowed artery clogged by plaque and a blood clot.


The second main type of stroke is haemorrhagic stroke. A haemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain breaks or ruptures. Far less common than ischaemic strokes, haemorrhagic strokes cause extra pressure inside the brain, often resulting in brain damage.

With painted 3-D models, our See for Yourself: Blood Pressure Checks Easel Display features an instructive brain model that depicts the damage of both ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes. Artery models in the display show partially blocked and fully blocked arteries characteristic of ischaemic stroke and weakened and burst arteries characteristic of haemorrhagic strokes.

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is similar to an ischaemic stroke because it often results from a blood clot. Sometimes called a “mini-stroke”, a TIA can develop when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked for only a short period of time by a clot. TIAs cause sudden, brief changes in brain function but do not cause any lasting or permanent damage. However, having had a TIA puts a person at high risk for a stroke in the future.



Possible Complications of Stroke


In addition to being a leading cause of death, strokes can cause temporary or permanent disabilities throughout the body. The damage that occurs depends on the part of the brain affected and how long the blood supply was blocked. Possible complications include paralysis, loss of muscle movement, problems with speaking or swallowing, bladder and bowel problems, trouble with thinking, memory loss, and emotional difficulties.



Warning Signs of Stroke

Knowing the signs of stroke and getting immediate help are essential for a better outcome. The symptoms are often distinctive because they come on suddenly.

Warning Signs of Stroke Include:

  • Sudden paralysis, numbness, or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, which often occurs on one side of the body

  • Sudden difficulty with coordination, trouble walking, or loss of balance

  • Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking, or trouble understanding

  • Sudden difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes

  • Sudden onset of severe headache, which may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or altered consciousness

Symptoms of a TIA are the same as those for stroke. Always call 999 right away if you or someone else is having symptoms of a stroke. Don’t delay—a stroke is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.

Featuring four of our popular cardiovascular health education resources, our Heart Health Education Package makes it easy to provide engaging lessons covering the essentials of cardiovascular health, including stroke risk and warning signs. A detailed facilitator’s guide includes presentation scripts, worksheets, activities, and more to help participants take charge of their cardiovascular health.




Why Treatment Time for Stroke Matters

Getting treatment for a stroke as soon as possible is extremely important. The longer blood flow is cut off to the brain, the greater the likelihood of severe damage and permanent disability. Most strokes are ischaemic strokes, which have a 3-hour window to begin treatment with a drug that can dissolve blood clots that are blocking blood flow to the brain. However, a stroke victim needs to be assessed within 60 minutes of having stroke for evaluation and treatment.



Stroke Prevention

Some risk factors for stroke are outside an individual’s control. For example, the risk of stroke increases with age, and people from a Black or South Asian background have a higher risk. However, people can work to control many of the risk factors for stroke. Maintaining a proper weight by eating a healthy diet with limited saturated fat and cholesterol and by getting regular physical activity is important. Avoiding illicit drug use also matters: Some drugs, such as cocaine, increase the risk for stroke or TIA.

Treatable Risk Factors for Stroke Include:

  • High Blood Pressure—High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for stroke, but many people don’t realise that they have high blood pressure because it usually has no symptoms. For people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to work with their healthcare professional to keep their blood pressure under control.

    Our What You Should Know About High Blood Pressure Folding Display covers the essentials of high blood pressure. It discusses what high blood pressure is, risk factors, health consequences of uncontrolled blood pressure (including stroke), and blood pressure management.

  • Smoking—Smoking has been linked to plaque buildup in the carotid artery, which is the main artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain. Smoking also increases blood pressure, makes blood more likely to clot, and decreases the amount of oxygen the blood carries to the brain.

  • Diabetes—People who have diabetes should work with their healthcare team to keep blood glucose levels under control. Uncontrolled diabetes can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including the brain.

  • Heart Disease—Common heart diseases, such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and cardiomyopathy, can cause blood clots that can lead to a stroke. Artery damage leading to stroke often results from atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of plaque within the arterial walls that can cause arteries to harden and thicken.


Find More Great Cardiovascular Health Education Resources

To learn more about our educational models and resources that highlight stroke and other aspects of cardiovascular health, visit our product section dedicated to heart health. Also, check out our popular Consequences Displays with 3-D models that cover stroke as a possible consequence of high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity, an inactive lifestyle, and drug abuse.

The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to replace the advice of a healthcare professional.


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