Did you know that a stroke occurs somewhere in the world every two seconds, with six fatal strokes happening every minute? This equates to 15 million people a year who suffer a stroke, approximately six million of which are fatal. Indeed, stroke is responsible for more deaths annually than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria all put together.

Stroke can often be brought about by inevitable factors like ageing and your family’s medical history, in addition to preventable factors such as a poor diet, excessive smoking or lack of exercise. The warning signs to look out for include weakness on one side of the body, slurring of speech and a difficulty in maintaining balance. When stroke occurs, it could easily be fatal, and even in cases where the victim survives, his/her life is turned upside down. Difficulties with swallowing, communicating, vision and movement are likely to ensue.

To learn more about stroke, its causes and consequences, plus how to care for a person who has survived a stroke, take a look at the infographic below from Home Care Plus (http://www.homecareplus.ie/palliative-care).