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Frequently Asked Questions

10 Common Questions Asked After Stroke

  1. Why me?
  2. What causes a stroke?
  3. Are there any warning signs before a stroke happens?
  4. Does age have any bearing on stroke?
  5. Are strokes caused by high blood pressure?
  6. Does exercise help prevent a stroke?
  7. Why do you feel so exhausted after stroke?
  8. How long does recovery take?
  9. Does stroke run in families?
  10. How can Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) help?

Specialised Stroke Questions

10 Common Questions Asked After Stroke

  1. Why me?

    Stroke often happens out of the blue, without warning. People affected by stroke and their families, are often left in shock and disbelief. Stroke can also cause a grief reaction, due to the overwhelming sense of loss. However, asking ‘Why me?’ is the first step on the process of recovery and learning to cope with the changes a stroke can bring.

  2. What causes a stroke?

    Stroke is caused by an interruption of the blood flow to the brain, by either a blood clot (thrombosis) or burst blood vessel (haemorrhage). As a result, brain cells are deprived of the oxygen and other nutrients, which they need. Some brain cells become damaged and others die. No two strokes are the same, and the symptoms depend on the area of the brain affected and the extent of the damage incurred.

  3. Are there any warning signs before a stroke happens?

    For most people stroke happens suddenly, without warning. However, sometimes people do experience symptoms before the stroke occurs, such as dizziness, headache and/or loss of balance. A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mini stroke is a clear warning of an increased risk of a stroke and requires medical attention.

  4. Does age have any bearing on stroke?

    Yes, stroke becomes more common as we get older. As we age our blood vessels become less elastic, which may increase the chance of high blood pressure developing, so increasing the risk of stroke. You can minimise your chance of stroke by paying attention to risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, exercise, diet and alcohol intake.

  5. Are strokes caused by high blood pressure?

    Persistent high blood pressure is a common risk factor for stroke. Over a period of time high blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels and encourages the blood to become stickier and so more likely to clot. Blood pressure should be checked in a healthy person every five years, if ever found to be abnormal it should be checked once a year.

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  6. Does exercise help prevent a stroke?

    Yes, exercise can help prevent a stroke. Regular activity is a good way of lowering blood pressure. It will also help control your weight and it leads to favourable changes to the balance of fats in your blood. People should aim to take aerobic exercise for about 30 minutes five times a week, as this is the level of activity which brings significant health benefits. You should seek your doctor’s advice before exercising if you are on medication or have a health problem.

  7. Why do you feel so exhausted after stroke?

    Exhaustion is a common feeling after stroke. This is because your body is recovering from the effects of the stroke. You cannot resume your normal level of activity following a stroke. Everyday tasks can take more concentration and effort. You can help by pacing yourself, breaking tasks down and increasing your level of activity gently to build up strength and stamina. It is also important to take rest when your body tells you that you need it. Fatigue will lessen over time.

  8. How long does recovery take?

    Recovery is a very individual thing, depending on the severity of the stroke and other factors. Most recovery occurs within the first few weeks after stroke, however, people can go on gradually recovering for a long time after that.

  9. Does stroke run in families?

    If you have a close relative who has had a stroke, you are at an increased risk, however, stroke is not hereditary. Families with a history of stroke, cardiovascular problems or other risk factors are at an increased risk of problems. If you are concerned about stroke in your family, discuss your worries with your doctor.

  10. How can Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) help?

    CHSS aims to improve the quality of life for people in Scotland affected by stroke illness through

    • medical research and education
    • advice and information
    • our Advice Line 0845 077 6000, provides confidential, independent advice on all aspects of stroke illness to people affected, their families, carers and health professionals. We also produce a range of booklets, factsheets and videos, which help, advise and inform. Ask for our Publications list.
    • support in the community through general stroke groups, and groups particularly to help people with communication problems
    • welfare grants to individuals and families in financial hardship

    If you would like more information contact us at Head Office on telephone 0131 225 6963.

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Specialised Stroke Questions Raised By DIPEx, March 2007

  1. Can epileptic seizures after a stroke be a sign of new pathways forming in the brain?
  2. Can stress cause a stroke?
  3. Has visualisation been used to help people regain movement in paralysed limbs?
  4. What do scans of the brain following a stroke show?
  5. Why does smoking increase the risk of stroke?
  6. Can I take the contraceptive pill if I have had a stroke?
  7. Is it safe to fly after a stroke?
  8. Could a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) cause a stroke?
  9. Can you develop problems with migraine after a stroke?
  10. Is there a possibility that stem cell therapy may be helpful for stroke?
  11. Can dehydration cause a stroke?
  12. Why am I so tired since my stroke?
  13. Why am I much more emotional since my stroke?
  14. Why are clot busting drugs which can be given soon after a stroke not more readily available?
  15. Could a stroke have affected my intelligence?
  16. Am I at an increased risk of having another stroke?
  17. Does stroke run in families?
  18. I have been told that high cholesterol may have caused my stroke, how can I reduce my cholesterol?
  19. What is the difference between a clot and haemorrhage?
  20. Would taking aspirin have prevented my stroke?
  21. I have had some bladder incontinence since my stroke why might this be happening?

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Specialised Stroke Questions Raised By DIPEx, March 2007

  1. Can epileptic seizures after a stroke be a sign of new pathways forming in the brain?

    No, seizures after stroke are caused by damage to the nerves in the brain which then miss-fire like an electrical short circuit. Seizures are more common after a stroke caused by a bleed (haemorrhage) than a blood clot. The more severe the stroke the more likely someone is to suffer from seizures afterwards. Epilepsy only develops in 3-4% of people who have a stroke but 8 -13% will have one or more epileptic type seizures following a stroke.

  2. Can stress cause a stroke?

    Stress does not directly cause a stroke. Feeling stressed will raise your blood pressure but it is the damage caused by prolonged high blood pressure that increases the risk of stroke. However how you react to stress can increase your risk as some people tend to develop habits such as smoking, excess alcohol consumption, a poor diet, lack of exercise and becoming overweight when they are stressed.

  3. Has visualisation been used to help people regain movement in paralysed limbs?

    Evidence has not shown a proven benefit in improving function to affected limbs by use of visualisation. So far visualisation has been more effectively used in cancer and pain management. Benefits may come however in improving positive attitude and developing coping mechanisms.

  4. What do scans of the brain following a stroke show?

    A computed tomography (CT) scan identifies what kind of stroke you have had (i.e. a clot or bleed) and the extent of damage the stroke may have caused. An MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging) gives an even more detailed picture of the brain and the blood vessels.

  5. Why does smoking increase the risk of stroke?

    Smoking makes the smooth lining of blood vessels rough. This encourages the build up of atheroma, the fatty material that narrows and blocks blood vessels. Smoking increases the amount of fibrinogen in the blood and makes blood stickier. This increases the chance of blood clots forming that can cause strokes. Smoking also raises blood pressure and speeds up the heart. These combined effects multiply any/all other risk factors you may have.

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  6. Can I take the contraceptive pill if I have had a stroke?

    There is a small risk attached to taking the combined oral contraceptive pill, so alternate methods of family planning should be explored; you should discuss these issues with your doctor.

  7. Is it safe to fly after a stroke?

    This depends on each individual person and the stroke they have had. The best advice is therefore to check with your doctor that you are medically fit to fly, but also to check with your airline and insurance company as well. Doctors often recommend waiting for 3 months before to flying after stroke due to an increased risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) and to allow recovery. However sometimes it may be necessary to fly before this, for example to fly home if the stroke happens abroad.

  8. Could a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) cause a stroke?

    DVT is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a large vein in a muscle, usually in the leg or pelvic region. There is a risk that a fragment of this clot may break off and get lodged in a blood vessel supplying the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE). Normally the clot can’t get into the arterial circulation supplying the brain. So most people who have a DVT or PE need not be concerned about having a stroke.
    However some people have a heart condition called patent foramen ovale (PFO) or 'hole in the heart' and in this condition there is a connection between the right and left chamber of the heart. This means that a clot could travel through to the left side of the heart into the arterial circulation which could then potentially cause a stroke or heart attack. This happens very rarely.
    For further information on DVT contact

  9. Can you develop problems with migraine after a stroke?

    It is unlikely that a stroke will cause problems with migraine although migraine attacks can start at any time in someone’s life. Some people who suffer from migraine can have symptoms similar to stroke. Some headaches after stroke can be caused by medication to thin the blood or to treat high blood pressure or angina. Women who experience migraine with aura have a slightly increased risk of stroke.

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  10. Is there a possibility that stem cell therapy may be helpful for stroke?

    Stem cells are one of the basic building blocks of the human body. They have the potential to develop into different types of cells which could then be used to treat or cure various diseases and conditions. So there is a possibility that stem cell therapy may be helpful to treat stroke in the future. However research is at a very early stage. Scientists continue to strive to find the best possible treatments for stroke.

  11. Can dehydration cause a stroke?

    Everybody is advised to avoid dehydration and encourage circulation in circumstances such as flying to avoid blood clots from forming within the circulatory system. This especially applies to people who have had a previous stroke, heart attack, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Very severe dehydration can eventually lead to seizures due to excessive electrical activity within the brain.

  12. Why am I so tired since my stroke?

    In the initial period after a stroke it is very likely that you will feel tired, both physically and mentally, overwhelmingly so in some cases. In the first few days the brain is swollen and cells that are not damaged are not working properly resulting in poor overall brain function. The answer to this is to sleep and rest to allow the brain time to settle and begin to recover. This usually improves over several weeks but for some people tiredness continues after this period. It is important to remember that physical or thinking problems caused by your stroke tend to be worse when you are tired.In the initial period after a stroke it is very likely that you will feel tired, both physically and mentally, overwhelmingly so in some cases. In the first few days the brain is swollen and cells that are not damaged are not working properly resulting in poor overall brain function. The answer to this is to sleep and rest to allow the brain time to settle and begin to recover. This usually improves over several weeks but for some people tiredness continues after this period. It is important to remember that physical or thinking problems caused by your stroke tend to be worse when you are tired. So you need to get adequate rest and not over exert yourself on ‘good days’ So you need to get adequate rest and not over exert yourself on ‘good days’. This will ensure you have the energy to continue to make progress with your recovery.

  13. Why am I much more emotional since my stroke?

    Having a stroke is a major life changing event and as you go through the stages of coming to terms with what has happened to you it is quite normal to feel emotional. However, a stroke can cause damage to the brain which may affect control of emotions. Some people suffer from Having a stroke is a major life changing event and as you go through the stages of coming to terms with what has happened to you it is quite normal to feel emotional. However, a stroke can cause damage to the brain which may affect control of emotions. Some people suffer from ‘emotionalism’, an uncontrolled display of emotions from crying to laughing inappropriately.

  14. Why are clot busting drugs which can be given soon after a stroke not more readily available?

    Clot busting drugs are currently only being used in some parts of the country. One of the problems with implementing this acute treatment for stroke is that it has to be administered within a few hours, to be effective. However it can not be administered unless the cause of the stroke has been confirmed, by a scan, to be due to a clot and not a bleed. Therefore increased awareness of the symptoms of stroke and the need for urgent medical attention has also to be considered. Until we have organised services in place that can meet these criteria, we will not be able to routinely use clot busting treatment as the risk of haemorrhage is too great.

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  15. Could a stroke have affected my intelligence?

    A stroke does not specifically affect your intelligence as such. However a stroke can cause damage to the brain to a greater or lesser extent, which depending on the area of the brain affected can affect your thinking, memory, concentration, perception (recognising objects, sounds, people, etc) processing of language, control of emotions, and insight.

  16. Am I at an increased risk of having another stroke?

    Someone who has had a stroke is at higher risk of having another one than someone who has never had a stroke. Individual risk depends on factors that are specific to you, the type of stroke you had, your age and general health. Taking prescribed medicines and addressing risk factors will reduce your risk of further stroke.

  17. Does stroke run in families?

    There is a slight increase in the risk of stroke for someone who has a family history of stroke. However the reason for this might be down to another risk factor that is passed on in families rather than just stroke itself. For example a condition which causes you to have a higher cholesterol level is genetic. Some Ethnic groups such as Afro-Caribbean have a higher incidence of stroke than white Caucasian groups. The important thing is that any risk factors an individual has are identified, controlled and monitored in order to provide the best protection against stroke, including family history.

  18. I have been told that high cholesterol may have caused my stroke, how can I reduce my cholesterol?

    Research has shown that people who have had a stroke should have their cholesterol lowered by taking drugs called statins. As well as this treatment, reducing saturated fat in your diet and increasing your physical activity will help to reduce high cholesterol. This means replacing meat and dairy products with fish and healthier oils, as well as eating a healthy varied diet.

  19. What is the difference between a clot and haemorrhage?

    A clot (thrombosis) blocks off an artery whereas a haemorrhage is caused by an artery bursting and causing bleeding. Both have the effect of interrupting the blood supply beyond the damaged point depriving the brain cells dependent upon it of oxygen and nutrients.

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  20. Would taking aspirin have prevented my stroke?

    Aspirin is prescribed and used to reduce the risk of transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) and ischaemic stroke (caused by a blood clot not a bleed) and heart attacks in people who are at known to be at high risk such as having coronary heart disease, previous TIA or stroke. Also some people with combinations of risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and family history of stroke or heart attack. Unfortunately even in these circumstances some people may still have a stroke.

  21. I have had some bladder incontinence since my stroke why might this be happening?

    Functional problems such as getting to the toilet and unfastening clothes in time can cause continence problems after a stroke. However loss of feeling/awareness, the bladder not emptying properly and loss of voluntary control can be caused by damage to the brain after a stroke. Problems usually improve after about 3 months but they can be permanent in about 15% of people affected. If you have ongoing problems seek the help of a specialist nurse called a continence advisor who will be able to help you identify and manage your particular problem most effectively.

© Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland 2008 | Page last updated on Thursday 26th June, 2008

Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland and CHSS are operating names of The Chest, Heart & Stroke Association Scotland,
a registered Scottish Charity. Registration No SCO18761