While strokes are more common in older people, they can happen at any age, as Coronation Street star Chris Fountain recently discovered.
The soap actor is known for his role as Tommy Duckworth on the long-running ITV show. However, he feared "life as he knew it" was over when doctors discovered he’d had a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) after a blood clot lodged in his brain.
The 35-year-old suffered the "mini stroke" in August and spent five days in a London hospital. More recently, he opened up on the terrifying ordeal for the first time and said he was gripped by "sheer panic" when he was unable to speak properly.
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He’ll now have to undergo a small surgery to patch up the hole and hopefully prevent any more clots travelling to his brain. The actor is also working with a speech therapist to retrain his brain, and he said he is determined to "live life to the max".
A TIA is the same as a stroke, except the symptoms only last for a short time. However, it is a warning that you could be at risk of having another stroke.
According to the NHS, a mini stroke is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain, which then results in a lack of oxygen to the brain. Mini strokes can cause many symptoms, including a number that affect the eyes.
The Stroke Association says blurred vision, or loss of sight in one or both eyes, could be a warning sign of a TIA. It also lists the following symptoms:
- sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including legs, hands or feet
- difficulty finding words or speaking in clear sentences
- sudden memory loss or confusion, and dizziness or a sudden fall
- a sudden, severe headache
There is no way of knowing whether you are having a TIA or a full stroke when the symptoms first start. If you, or someone else, show any of the signs of stroke or TIA you must call 999. If you think you have had a TIA some time in the past and have not yet sought medical attention, see your GP urgently.
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