People who face an elevated risk of stroke are often unaware of the five key warning signs, research suggests. A study presented at a conference of the American Stroke Association questioned 86,573 US adults about the symptoms of stroke and what to do with a suspected sufferer. Elderly people and those who had already survived a stroke were found to be less likely to know the warning signs of stroke than other people who were less at risk.
Lead study author Dr Jing Fang, who is an epidemiologist at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, commented: "We were really surprised to see people who have had a stroke were less aware of symptoms than those who had not had a stroke". The researcher added that people should be aware of the signs and symptoms of stroke so that suspected sufferers can be taken to hospital as swiftly as possible, giving them a better chance of survival and reducing their chances of needing long-term stroke care. Stroke affects around 150,000 people in the UK every year. Warning signs include sudden weakness in the face, arm or leg; a severe headache with no known cause; sudden vision disturbance; sudden confusion or speech problems; and sudden dizziness or loss of coordination.