Stroke Awareness Month – May 2025

According to the Stroke Association, every day in May, 240 people in the UK will wake up to the life-changing impact of a stroke.

This is a shocking statistic and, coupled with the fact that strokes can affect anyone at any age, is something we should all be aware of, along with the signs and symptoms.

The Stroke Association advises that “mums, dads, grandparents, young people, and even children can be left unable to move, see, speak, or even swallow. It’s a traumatic, life-changing event that robs survivors and their families of the life they knew.”

Stroke symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of a stroke include sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, trouble speaking or understanding speech, vision problems, dizziness, and a severe headache. It’s crucial to act FAST.

The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word FAST:

• Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped.
• Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in 1 arm.
• Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you’re saying to them.
• Time – it’s time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.

Amanda Cavanagh, a medical negligence specialist at Ashtons Legal, says: “Stroke does not discriminate and therefore it is important that everyone is aware of the first potential signs and symptoms and act FAST, the earlier treatment is sought the better it is to lessen the effects of the stroke”.

Contact our medical negligence solicitors today

At Ashtons Legal, we support people who have been affected by medical delays and are here to offer guidance if you need it.

If you believe we can assist you when pursuing a Medical Negligence claim, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at 0330 191 4835 or complete our online enquiry form.