Seven in ten Scots don’t know the symptoms of a mini-stroke

Published on 29/10/2012 01:00

THOUSANDS of people are at risk of suffering a mini-stroke – with a new poll showing seven in ten Scots don’t know the symptoms and eight in ten would not go to hospital even if they had them.

The Stroke Association said the findings were “concerning” and urged people to become more aware of symptoms of a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke.

A Scottish poll by the charity, to mark World Stroke Day, found that while 87 per cent of people would be worried if they experienced the symptoms – short periods of facial weakness, speech problems, and pins and needles – just a fifth would go to hospital.

Research shows if all patients experiencing a mini-stroke received emergency treatment, about 1,000 strokes could be avoided every year 
in Scotland.

Maddy Halliday, director of the Stroke Association in Scotland, said: “The results of this poll are very concerning.About 13,000 people in Scotland will have a stroke every year, but many could be prevented if more people were aware of the symptoms and sought treatment.”