Almost half of Wales’s residents unaware that stroke is one of the biggest killers in the UK, according to Stroke Association study

Almost half of people in Wales don’t know that stroke is the fourth biggest killer in the UK, according to new research by the Stroke Association¹. The charity has released the survey findings as it calls for vital support to fund more research into the devastating condition.

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brain cells. The charity’s latest study asked the general public to rank health conditions in order of the leading causes of death. 46% of people in Wales who ranked stroke placed it below its actual position as the fourth biggest killer².

The research also revealed that more than one in ten people (13%) in Wales underestimate the impact of stroke, believing that stroke ranks lower than its actual position as the fifth leading cause of disability (and death combined) in the UK³. Over half of people (52%) didn’t have any idea where stroke ranked highlighting a lack of knowledge. In fact, two thirds of people who survive a stroke find themselves living with a disability.

There are 1.3 million stroke survivors living in the UK, with over 50% of all stroke survivors dependent on others for everyday activities. However, the Stroke Association’s survey also found that people don’t understand the true long term damage a stroke can cause:

• Almost two-thirds (63%) of people are unaware that fatigue is a common hidden effect of stroke
• More than two thirds (68%) don’t realise that stroke can cause depression and anxiety
• More than a quarter (29%) don’t know that communication difficulties are common after stroke
• Almost three quarters of people (73%) don’t know that stroke can affect hearing
• Over half (59%) are unaware that stroke survivors can experience vision problems

Despite the devastating impact of stroke, stroke research is chronically underfunded and receives far less funding than other health conditions that have similar life-long effects. In the UK far less is spent per survivor on research into stroke than research into any other health condition.

Data shows that annually, only 1.2% of research budgets (approx. £30m) are spent on stroke, compared with 14.8% (approx. £400m) on cancer⁴, while there are 1.3m people living with the effects of stroke in the UK and 2.5m living with cancer. However, the survey reveals many Brits believe more research funding is spent on stroke than other conditions including prostate cancer, dementia and chronic lower respiratory diseases.

The study also found that two in five (40%) think that the number of deaths from stroke has increased in the last 10 years. However, despite stroke being the UK’s fourth biggest killer, the rate of deaths has actually decreased by more than half in the last three decades thanks in part to life saving research⁵, demonstrating the crucial need for continued investment in stroke research.

Alexander Smith, Stroke Association-funded PhD student at Cardiff University, said: “Stroke research drives breakthroughs in stroke treatment and care; it is behind the development of life-saving treatments and helps find new ways to support people to live their lives with quality and meaning after a stroke.”

“The impacts of stroke vary; from affecting your ability to walk and move, to your memory and thinking skills and your ability to understand and express yourself through language. Stroke survivors should be at the heart of research so that new treatments and care options are tailored to their needs. However, one of the barriers to this is that their voices may be excluded during routine conversations that assess the impact of stroke and their recovery - using questionnaires known as Patient Report Outcome Measures (PROMs).”

“I’m carrying out research to better understand the challenges stroke survivors’ face, due to their stroke – which affect their ability to complete PROMs. My research will enable stroke specialists to adapt PROMs to make them easier for stroke survivors to complete. Having rich information about individual experiences can be used to ensure stroke survivors get the right treatment and the support they need after a stroke. My research wouldn’t be possible without the Stroke Association, who are dedicated to funding stroke research and improving the lives of every stroke survivor.”

Gerald McMullen, a 66-year-old retired pub landlord and driver, had a stroke at home in Cardiff in October 2020. 

“I got up in the morning and felt OK,” Gerald recalls. “I was sitting in my chair having a cup of tea when my wife Linda suddenly asked if I was OK. I said ‘yes’. However, she noticed that something was amiss. My outstretched arm, holding my cup, seemed rigid to her.” Linda recognised the FAST symptoms and called 999 immediately. 

On arrival at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales, Gerald was taken for a scan, they found a big clot in the brain, known as a large artery occlusion so a thrombectomy was carried out. 

Thrombectomy is most effective when delivered within six hours of symptoms occurring. A flexible tube with a tiny wire mesh cage on the end is inserted into an artery near the groin and guided up through the body into the brain. The cage closes around the clot and removes it, allowing blood to flow freely again. 

Gerald said, “I know I was lucky to get a thrombectomy but all I remember of the operation was the machine over the top of my head. I drifted off to sleep and the next thing I remember is the guy said to me: ‘That’s it, you’re done.’” 

Gerald stayed on the ward for two nights. “The stroke has left me with a legacy of a weak right arm, but I’m getting that back now. Without the thrombectomy I would have been in a much worse state." 

Now Gerald can play golf again and enjoy life with his family. “I think thrombectomy is fantastic. Get it done quickly and get rid of the clot. It’s brilliant technology. Without the research that the Stroke Association has funded, my life may be very different. Research into rehabilitation is so important for future stroke survivors as it will help them get the best recovery they deserve.”

Katie Chappelle, Associate Director Wales, Stroke Association, said: “Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and while it changes lives in an instant, the brain can adapt and rebuild after stroke. That’s why research means everything to the 1.3 million stroke survivors and their families living in the UK, because of the life-changing impact it could have on their future. Our pioneering research has been at the centre of major breakthroughs that have saved lives and sparked innovation in stroke care and treatment. From laying the foundations for the Act FAST campaign, to funding early research into the emergency stroke treatment thrombectomy (the manual removal of stroke-causing blood clots), many patients have been spared the most devastating effects of stroke as a result of our research.

“Despite stroke still being the fourth biggest killer in the UK, research has helped to more than halve the rate of deaths from stroke over the last three decades. It’s absolutely crucial that we continue this progress, but we can’t do this without vital funding. Far less is spent ‘per survivor’ on research into stroke than on research into any other health condition. We would never want to take researchers or money away from other conditions such as cancer, but we do want to replicate the success that cancer research has had, so that we can continue to make breakthroughs in stroke treatment and care.

“Now our focus is on improving life, after stroke strikes. The Stroke Association is the only organisation dedicated to funding research into ongoing rehabilitation for stroke survivors. Our research means everything to stroke survivors and their families. It gives hope for a better recovery, living more independently, a future. We’re calling on people to donate where they can to support our research and help give stroke survivors and their families the progress they deserve.”

Donate to help fund the research that could mean everything to stroke survivors and their loved ones. Funds raised will go towards vital services for stroke survivors across the UK, including support and pioneering research. Visit www.stroke.org.uk/supportresearch

Nid yw bron i hanner trigolion Cymru yn ymwybodol mai strôc yw un o’r lladdwyr mwyaf yn y Deyrnas Unedig, yn ôl astudiaeth gan y Gymdeithas Strôc

Nid yw bron i hanner y boblogaeth yng Nghymru yn gwybod mai strôc yw’r lladdwr mwyaf ond tri yn y Deyrnas Unedig, yn ôl ymchwil newydd gan y Gymdeithas Strôc¹. Mae’r elusen wedi cyhoeddi canfyddiadau’r arolwg wrth iddi alw am gymorth hanfodol i ariannu mwy o ymchwil i’r cyflwr dinistriol.

Mae strôc yn digwydd pan fo’r cyflenwad gwaed i ran o’r ymennydd yn cael ei gau, gan ladd celloedd yn yr ymennydd. Gofynnodd astudiaeth ddiwddaraf yr elusen i’r cyhoedd restru cyflyrau iechyd yn nhrefn prif achosion marwolaeth. Gwnaeth 46% o bobl yng Nghymru a restrodd strôc ei osod yn is na’i wir safle fel y lladdwr mwyaf ond tri².

Datgelodd yr ymchwil hefyd fod mwy nag un o bob deg o bobl (13%) yng Nghymru yn tanbrisio effaith strôc, gan gredu bod strôc yn is ar y rhestr na’i wir safle fel yr achos pennaf ond pedwar o anabledd (a marwolaeth, gyda’i gilydd) yn y Deyrnas Unedig³. Nid oedd gan dros hanner y boblogaeth (52%) unrhyw syniad lle roedd strôc ar y rhestr, gan amlygu diffyg gwybodaeth. Mewn gwirionedd, mae dau berson o bob tri sy’n goroesi strôc yn eu canfod eu hunain yn byw ag anabledd.

Mae yna 1.3 miliwn o oroeswyr strôc yn byw yn y Deyrnas Unedig, gyda thros 50% o’r holl oroeswyr strôc yn ddibynnol ar eraill am weithgareddau beunyddiol. Fodd bynnag, canfu arolwg y Gymdeithas Strôc hefyd nad yw pobl yn deall y gwir niwed hirdymor y gall strôc ei beri:

• Nid yw bron i ddau o bob tri (63%) o bobl yn ymwybodol bod gorflinder yn un o effeithiau cuddiedig cyffredin strôc;
• Nid yw mwy na dau o bob tri (68%) yn sylweddoli y gall strôc beri iselder a gorbryder;
• Nid yw mwy na chwarter (29%) yn gwybod bod anawsterau cyfathrebu yn gyffredin ar ôl strôc;
• Nid yw bron i dri-chwarter o bobl (73%) yn gwybod y gall strôc effeithio ar glyw;
• Nid yw dros hanner o bobl (59%) yn ymwybodol y gall goroeswyr strôc brofi problemau â’u golwg.

Er gwaethaf effaith ddinistriol strôc, caiff ymchwil strôc ei danariannu drwy’r adeg, ac mae’n derbyn llawer llai o gyllid na chyflyrau iechyd eraill sydd ag effeithiau gydol oes cyffelyb. Yn y Deyrnas Unedig, gwarir llawer llai am bob goroeswr ar ymchwil i strôc nag ymchwil i unrhyw gyflwr iechyd arall.

Dengys data mai yn flynyddol, dim ond 1.2% o gyllidebau ymchwil (oddeutu £30 miliwn) a warir ar strôc, o’i gymharu â 14.8% (oddeutu £400 miliwn) ar ganser⁴, tra bod yna 1.3 miliwn o bobl yn byw ag effeithiau strôc yn y Deyrnas Unedig a 2.5 miliwn yn byw â chanser. Fodd bynnag, mae’r arolwg yn datgelu y cred llawer o Brydeinwyr bod mwy o gyllid ymchwil yn cael ei wario ar strôc nag ar gyflyrau eraill, yn cynnwys canser y prostad, dementia a chlefydau anadlol isaf cronig.

Canfu’r astudiaeth hefyd y cred dau o bob pump (40%) bod nifer y marwolaethau strôc wedi cynyddu yn y 10 mlynedd diwethaf. Fodd bynnag, er gwaethaf y ffaith mai strôc yw lladdwr mwyaf ond tri y Deyrnas Unedig, mae cyfradd y marwolaethau mewn gwirionedd wedi gostwng fwy na hanner yn y tair degawd diwethaf, diolch yn rhannol i ymchwil sy’n arbed bywyd⁵, gan ddangos yr angen hanfodol i barhau i fuddsoddi mewn ymchwil strôc.

Dywedodd Alexander Smith, myfyriwr PhD a ariannir gan y Gymdeithas Strôc ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd: “Mae ymchwil strôc yn cymell datblygiadau arloesol o ran gofal a thriniaeth o strôc; mae wrth wraidd datblygiad triniaethau sy’n arbed bywyd ac mae’n helpu i ganfod ffyrdd newydd o gynorthwyo pobl i fyw eu bywydau ag ansawdd ac ystyr ar ôl strôc.

“Mae effeithiau strôc yn amrywio; o effeithio ar eich gallu i gerdded a symud, i’ch cof a’ch sgiliau meddwl a’ch gallu i ddeall a mynegi’ch hun drwy iaith. Dylai goroeswyr strôc fod wrth graidd ymchwil fel bod triniaethau newydd ac opsiynau gofal yn cael eu llunio ar gyfer eu hanghenion. Fodd bynnag, un o’r rhwystrau rhag hyn yw y gall eu lleisiau gael eu hallgáu yn ystod sgyrsiau arferol sy’n asesu effaith strôc a’u hadferiad - gan ddefnyddio holiaduron a elwir yn ‘Mesurau Canlyniadau a Adroddir gan Gleifion’ (PROMau).

“Rwyf yn cynnal ymchwil i ddeall yn well yr heriau y mae goroeswyr strôc yn eu hwynebu, o ganlyniad i’w strôc – sy’n effeithio ar eu gallu i gwblhau PROMau. Bydd fy ymchwil yn galluogi arbenigwyr strôc i addasu PROMau i’w gwneud yn haws i oroeswyr strôc eu cwblhau. Gall meddu ar wybodaeth dda am brofiadau unigol gael ei ddefnyddio i sicrhau bod goroeswyr strôc yn cael y driniaeth gywir a’r cymorth y mae arnynt ei angen ar ôl strôc. Ni fyddai fy ymchwil yn bosibl heb y Gymdeithas Strôc, sy’n ymroddedig i ariannu ymchwil i strôc ac i wella bywydau pob goroeswr strôc.”

Cafodd Gerald McMullen, landlord tafarn a gyrrwr wedi ymddeol 66 mlwydd oed, strôc gartref yng Nghaerdydd ym mis Hydref, 2020. 

“Codais yn y bore gan deimlo’n iawn,” yw atgof Gerald. “Roeddwn yn eistedd yn fy nghadair yn cael paned o de pan ofynnodd fy ngwraig Linda yn sydyn a oeddwn yn iawn. Dywedais ‘Ydw’. Fodd bynnag, fe sylwodd hi fod rhywbeth o chwith. Roedd fy mraich wedi’i hymestyn, gan afael yn fy nghwpan, yn ymddangos yn anhyblyg iddi hi.” Adnabu Linda symptomau FAST a ffoniodd 999 yn syth. 

Pan gyrhaeddodd Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru, Caerdydd, aed â Gerald am sgan, a chanfuant dolchen fawr yn yr ymennydd, a adwaenir yn achludiad y rhydweli fawr, ac felly gwnaed thrombectomi. 

Mae thrombectomi ar ei fwyaf effeithiol pan gaiff ei ddarparu o fewn chwe awr wedi i symptomau ddigwydd. Caiff tiwb hyblyg a chanddo gaets rhwyll wifrog bychan ar y pen ei fewnosod i rydweli ger cesail y forddwyd a’i dywys i fyny drwy’r corff i mewn i’r ymennydd. Mae’r caets yn cau o amgylch y dolchen ac mae’n cael gwared â hi, gan ganiatáu i waed lifo’n rhydd eto. 

Dywedodd Gerald, “Gwn fy mod wedi bod yn ffodus o gael thrombectomi ond y cyfan rwyf yn ei gofio o’r llawdriniaeth yw’r peiriant dros gorun fy mhen. Fe es i gysgu’n raddol, a’r peth nesaf rwyf yn ei gofio yw’r dyn yn dweud wrthyf: ‘Dyna fo, rydych wedi’ch gwneud.’” 

Arhosodd Gerald ar y ward am ddwy noson. “Mae’r strôc wedi fy ngadael â gwaddol o fraich dde wan, ond rwyf yn cael honno yn ei hôl yn awr. Heb y thrombectomi, fe fuaswn wedi bod mewn cyflwr llawer gwaeth." 

Yn awr gall Gerald chwarae golff eto a mwynhau bywyd gyda’i deulu. “Credaf fod thrombectomi yn wych. Ewch amdano’n ddiymdroi a chewch wared â’r dolchen. Mae’n dechnoleg ragorol. Heb yr ymchwil y mae’r Gymdeithas Strôc wedi’i hariannu, efallai y byddai fy mywyd yn wahanol iawn. Mae ymchwil i adsefydlu mor bwysig i oroeswyr strôc y dyfodol, gan y bydd yn eu helpu i gael yr adferiad gorau y maent yn ei haeddu.”

Dywedodd Katie Chappelle, Cyfarwyddwr Cyswllt Cymru, y Gymdeithas Strôc: “Mae strôc yn taro bob pum munud yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ac er ei fod yn newid bywydau ar amrantiad, gall yr ymennydd addasu ac ailadeiladu ar ôl strôc. Dyna pam mae ymchwil yn golygu popeth i’r 1.3 miliwn o oroeswyr strôc a’u teuluoedd sy’n byw yn y Deyrnas Unedig, oherwydd yr effaith sy’n newid bywydau y gallai’i gael ar eu dyfodol.. Mae ein hymchwil arloesol wedi bod wrth graidd datblygiadau arloesol mawrion sydd wedi arbed bywydau ac wedi ysgogi arloesi mewn gofal a thriniaeth strôc. O osod y sylfeini ar gyfer yr ymgyrch Gweithredwch FAST, i ariannu ymchwil cynnar i thrombectomi trin strôc brys (tynnu tolchenni gwaed sy’n achosi strôc â llaw), mae llawer o gleifion wedi gallu osgoi effeithiau mwyaf dinistriol strôc o ganlyniad i’n hymchwil.

“Er gwaethaf y ffaith mai strôc o hyd yw’r lladdwr mwyaf ond tri yn y Deyrnas Unedig, mae ymchwil wedi helpu i fwy na haneru cyfradd y marwolaethau o ganlyniad i strôc dros y tair degawd diwethaf. Mae’n gyfan gwbl anhepgor ein bod yn parhau â’r cynnydd hwn, ond ni allwn wneud hyn heb gyllid hanfodol. Gwarir llawer iawn llai ‘am bob goroeswr’ ar ymchwil i strôc nag ar ymchwil i unrhyw gyflwr iechyd arall. Ni fyddai arnom byth eisiau mynd ag ymchwilwyr neu arian oddi wrth gyflyrau eraill megis canser, ond maearnom eisiau ailadrodd y llwyddiant y mae ymchwil canser wedi’i gael, fel y gallwn barhau i wneud datblygiadau arloesol mewn triniaeth a gofal strôc.

“Mae ein ffocws yn awr ar wella bywyd ar ôl i strôc daro. Y Gymdeithas Strôc yw’r unig sefydliad sy’n ymroddedig i ariannu ymchwil i adsefydlu parhaus i oroeswyr strôc. Golyga’n hymchwil bopeth i oroeswyr strôc a’u teuluoedd. Mae’n rhoi gobaith am well adferiad, byw’n fwy annibynnol, dyfodol.. Galwn ar bobl i roddi lle y gallant gynorthwyo’n hymchwil ac i helpu i roi’r cynnydd i oroeswyr strôc a’u teuluoedd y maent yn ei haeddu.”

Rhoddwch i helpu i ariannu’r ymchwil a allai olygu popeth i oroeswyr strôc a’u hanwyliaid. Rhoddir arian a godir tuag at wasanaethau hanfodol i oroeswyr strôc ledled y Deyrnas Unedig, yn cynnwys cymorth ac ymchwil arloesol. Ewch i www.stroke.org.uk/supportresearch