10 things I didn't know about Strokes

I didn't know a lot about Strokes until I had one (I had a Stroke if you didn't know) and to save you having to have one I thought I'd jot down some of the things that I didn't know so that you can know them too. Cool? Cool.

1. They can happen for no reason, as in, one day a bit of blood can decide to get stuck in your brain, kill a bit of it and you'll never know why. Mind-blowing (excuse the pun) isn't it? 

2. The brain can fully recover from a Stroke, I thought that once you had a Stroke you were pretty f*cked and the damage that you had was forever. When I was sitting in my hospital bed with my harm hanging by my side and only half my face working I didn't properly believe the Dr's when they said I'd make a full recovery, how can you go from having paralysed limb to not having one? Bloody magic the brain is. 

3. Strokes don't always hurt, when they're happening they can feel weird but often not painful

4. They really do ruin your life, and it takes a lot of mind over matter and mindfulness (with a damaged mind) to come to terms and move on from it. 

5. There's more than one type of Stroke; Ischemic and Hemorrhagic. An Ischemic stroke occurs when a clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. In a Hemorrhagic stroke, blood leaks into the brain from a ruptured vessel. There are also Mini Strokes or TIAs that are smaller strokes with temporary symptoms, whilst they tend to go away they're often a warning sign and shouldn't be ignored.

6. The timescale for the most effective and successful recovery is just three hours after the first symptom. That is why it's so important to think F.A.S.T and get to a hospital if you suspect you or someone else is having Stroke. 

7. If caught in time, Strokes can be very simple to treat. I was given Aspirin, a simple drug that can be bought in the health section of most shops. 

8. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death un the UK 

9.  A stroke that occurs on one side of the brain will cause damage to the opposite side of the body. Right side brain damage, for example, normally causes left side physical symptoms. 

10. Although full recovery is possible from a Stroke there are often long-term effects, mine include, tightening of my face when I'm tired or nervous, a heaviness in my arm when I've been active and forgetfulness.