Meeting of the Parliament 21 November 2024
I thank Roz McCall MSP for bringing this debate to the chamber and for sharing her personal story with us. I know that the subject is close to her heart.
As Roz McCall highlighted, stroke is the third most common cause of death in Scotland and it is on the rise. People are surviving for longer, but those who are suffering stroke are getting younger. A study in Oxford found that, between 2010 and 2018, there was a 67 per cent rise in strokes among under-55s. It also found that there had been a significant rise in the proportion of people in professional and managerial jobs having strokes and it suggested that work-related stress, low physical activity and long working hours could be contributing to that. Blood pressure is the biggest single factor, and the importance of that could be addressed with increased awareness of symptoms of stroke and the risk factors.
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland has emphasised the importance of regular repetition of public health messaging. As has been noted, 39 per cent of adults in Scotland are unaware of the signs of strokes or the FAST mnemonic. Among 18 to 24-year-olds, the figure goes up to 53 per cent. It is important for people to have that knowledge, because the signs of a stroke do not necessarily look like an emergency. It would be good to hear from the cabinet secretary how the Government will support the campaign and, crucially, how we will engage with younger people. We can all play our part by making sure that we use our platforms to share the campaign widely among our constituents. The more people who are able to recognise the signs of a stroke and take immediate action, the better. Earlier treatment means a greater chance of recovery, and the first three hours are especially crucial.
Roz McCall also discussed the mnemonic BE FAST, which adds balance and eyes. Although that is used in some parts of the US, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland has suggested that there is just not enough evidence that it works. It points to a previous trial of BE FAST in Scotland that led to a high number of non-stroke issues being identified as emergencies.