What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, depriving brain cells of the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive. Brain cells begin to die within minutes.
The effects of a stroke depend on which part of the brain is affected and how quickly treatment is received — but they can include problems with movement, speech, memory, vision and cognition, and in serious cases, permanent disability or death.
Stroke is one of Australia's leading causes of death and the leading cause of acquired disability. In 2023, an estimated 45,785 Australians experienced a stroke — roughly one every 11 minutes.
Like a heart attack, stroke is a medical emergency. The faster treatment begins, the better the outcome. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, call 000 immediately.
What are the types of stroke?
An ischaemic stroke — the most common type, accounting for around 85 per cent of all strokes — occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery supplying the brain. The clot may form in the brain's arteries directly (often due to atherosclerosis) or travel to the brain from elsewhere in the body, most commonly from the heart.
A haemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds. This type is less common but often more severe. It is frequently associated with long-standing high blood pressure.
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) — sometimes called a "mini-stroke" — occurs when blood flow to the brain is temporarily disrupted but restored quickly, without permanent damage. TIAs are an urgent warning sign of stroke risk and should be treated as a medical emergency.
How do I recognise a stroke?
The FAST test is the most widely used tool for recognising stroke symptoms:
- — Face: Has their face drooped on one side? Can they smile?
- — Arms: Can they raise both arms? Does one drift downward?
- — Speech: Is their speech slurred or confused? Can they speak or understand you?
- — Time: If you see any of these signs, call 000 immediately.
Other symptoms can include sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision loss or blurring, a sudden severe headache with no known cause and sudden loss of balance or coordination.
What are the risk factors?
The risk factors for stroke overlap significantly with those for cardiovascular disease. The most important modifiable risk factors include high blood pressure (the single biggest risk factor for stroke), atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm that promotes clot formation), high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption and carrying excess weight.
Non-modifiable risk factors include older age, male sex, family history and certain ethnic backgrounds — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of South Asian, African and Pacific Islander heritage have higher rates of stroke.
How is stroke treated?
Treatment depends on the type of stroke. For ischaemic stroke, clot-dissolving medication (thrombolysis) can be administered if the patient arrives at hospital within a specific time window. A procedure called a thrombectomy — where the clot is physically removed from the artery — is now available at specialist centres and has dramatically improved outcomes for some patients.
For haemorrhagic stroke, treatment focuses on controlling bleeding and reducing pressure on the brain, sometimes through surgery.
After the acute phase, stroke rehabilitation — including physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy — plays a critical role in recovery. Secondary prevention, including managing blood pressure, cholesterol and other risk factors and, where relevant, anticoagulant medication for atrial fibrillation, is essential to reduce the risk of a further stroke.