Stroke – Risk Factors and Symptoms
Risk factors
- Atrial fibrillation (link is external)
- Recurrent stroke, transient ischaemic attack, systemic embolism
- Age of 75 onwards
- Cardiac insufficiency / left ventricular dysfunction, e.g. dysfunctional ejection function of the left ventricle
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus
- Angiopathy
Consequences
The FAST test
Angles Initiative

The ‘Angels Initiative’ launched by Boehringer Ingelheim in partnership with the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) and the World Stroke Organisation (WSO) is a unique healthcare initiative to improve acute stroke care across Europe and in emerging markets. The aim of the ‘Angels initiative’ in Europe is to build a community of at least 1,500 stroke centres and ‘stroke ready’ hospitals. The initiative wants to advance stroke care by improving acute stroke networks, treatment procedures and sharing knowledge with hospitals on how to work as a stroke-unit. The programme provides doctors, nurses and hospitals with the necessary resources, training and support they need to achieve this and provide better care to stroke sufferers wherever they live in Europe.
For more information on the initiative, please visit: www.angels-initiative.com (link is external).
References
1 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Types of Strokes. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/stroke/types.html (accessed August 2017).
2 World Stroke Organization. http://www.worldstrokecampaign.org/ (accessed August 2017.)
3 Saver J. Time is Brain – Quantified. Stroke 2006;37:263-266.
4 Jauch E, et al. Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke. Stroke 2013;44:870-947.
5 ESO Guidelines 2009 Update. www.eso-stroke.org (accessed August 2017).