Stroke Awareness Month: Not just an elderly disease

It is national stroke month in May and 25% of the 157,000 strokes that occur nationally every year are among people of working age, who will generally have a much better chance of surviving a stroke.

However, a new survey of stroke survivors of working age, commissioned by AIG Heart Attack and Stroke in association with UK charity Different Strokes, showed that many experienced financial difficulties during their recovery. Overall, 70% of stroke survivors surveyed experienced a decline in personal income after their stroke.
 
Of those surveyed who went back to work, the majority (32%) resumed work between 4 and 6 months after the stroke, but 33% went back more than a year after the stroke.

In terms of their current employment status, 17% retired on medical grounds, 16% were able to return to their previous job, but 15% went back to their previous job with modified hours, while 11% now work for a different employer and 7% are self-employed.

Of those that don’t currently work and aren’t looking to work, the most frequent reason cited (40%) is that they don’t feel fit enough, while 38% said they’d like to work but can’t do their previous job, 22% have found it difficult to find work and 22% said they can no longer drive or take public transport to get to work.

Debbie Wilson, Different Strokes spokesperson says, ‘While most people will know of an elderly person who suffered a stroke, we need more awareness that many strokes happen to younger people who still have their lives ahead of them. These stroke survivors need help and support in adjusting to any disability they have and in getting back to work. Employers need to be aware of how they can facilitate a return to work, and understanding colleagues are important too.’
 
Stroke Symptom Awareness

The good news is that the government’s ‘FAST’ stroke awareness campaign seems to be working, as a separate survey of 1,800 adults surveyed by AIG Heart Attack and Stroke and Different Strokes showed:
 
84% recognised ‘difficulty speaking’ as a stroke symptom

81% recognised ‘ Weakness, numbness or inability to move the face, arm or leg on one side of the body’

60% recognised ‘Blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes’

However, younger age groups were much less likely to recognise stroke symptoms; of 25-34 year olds:
 
31% did not recognise ‘difficulty speaking’ as a symptom of strokes

36% did not recognise ‘ Weakness, numbness or inability to move the face, arm or leg on one side of the body’

48% did not recognise ‘Blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes’

Across the board there was far lower recognition of some of the other stroke symptoms that can hinder lives, or affect the return to work, of stroke survivors:
 
only half of those surveyed recognised that stroke survivors can suffer from fatigue – one of the most common results of a stroke

44% recognised that they may have difficulty with reading

43% that they may have difficulty with planning

38% recognised that they may have difficulty with setting goals

33% recognised that they may have severe headaches
 
A surprising number of all those surveyed thought stroke survivors might suffer from difficulties not habitually associated with the illness:
 
12% thought they would experience vomiting

1 in 10 thought they would suffer from diarrhoea

9% thought they might suffer from ulcers

For more information, visit differentstrokes.co.uk or aigdirect.co.uk.