- Each year over 100,000 people in Wales and England have a first stroke
- About 10,000 of these are under retirement age
- Stroke is the third most common cause of death in Wales and England, after heart disease and cancer
- Stroke is the largest single cause of severe disability in England and Wales with over 300,000 people being affected
What is a Stroke? A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes happen when a blood clot blocks an artery which is carrying blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding within or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, the brain cells are deprived of oxygen and other nutrients, causing some cells to become damaged and others to die. At a stroke - help from core team Stroke can affect anyone at any age, although some people are at higher risk than others. These include people with high blood pressure, those who have had mini-strokes, heart attacks or suffer from hardening of the arteries. Based at Ysbyty Gwynedd, there is a core mobile Stroke Team which is headed by a Consultant, and co-ordinated by a Stroke Specialist Nurse. The team also includes a Specialist Registrar, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and a Speech and Language Therapist. The Acute Stroke Admission Checklist, which aims to speed up the general process, is completed by the admitting medical team at the unit. Depending on the individual patient's need, the team then refers patients to other specialised staff such as the dietician, social worker and orthoptist. The three Family Support Workers, covering Anglesey, North and South Gwynedd, also work closely with the team and get involved with patients and families to provide long term support. The team also works closely with the Neuropsychology Department at the University College of North Wales, Bangor.
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