Men are at a higher risk of stroke than women, especially under the age of 65. Having a close relative with stroke increases the risk, possibly because factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes tend to run in families. Asians, Africans or African-Caribbeans are at greater risk. The reasons are not yet fully understood but are partly linked to factors like diabetes, which is more common in Asians, and high blood pressure, which is more common in people of African descent. The effects of a stroke vary enormously, and depend on which part of the brain is damaged and the extent of that damage.
Many people experience problems with speaking, understanding, reading and writing.
These problems can range from temporary difficulty in finding words, to a complete inability to communicate. Most people who experience speech and language problems have damage in the left side of the brain, which is responsible for language, reading, writing and numbers. Difficulties in perception. There may be difficulty recognising familiar objects or knowing how to use them. There may also be problems with abstract concepts such as telling the time.