Angin ahmar (strok, or stroke) happens when blood stops flowing to part of the brain, and it is a medical emergency: call 999 immediately if you notice the signs. Remember FAST: Face drooping on one side, Arm weakness, Speech problems, and Time to call 999. Other warning signs include sudden numbness down one side of the body, loss of vision, confusion and a severe headache. A "mini stroke" (TIA) has the same signs but passes within 24 hours, and it still needs urgent assessment. High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation and smoking all raise the risk, and many strokes can be prevented.
What is angin ahmar (strok)?
Angin ahmar is the Malay term for a stroke (strok). According to the NHS, a stroke is when blood stops flowing to a part of your brain. It can affect things like speech and movement, recovery can take a long time, and it needs urgent medical help in hospital because it can be life-threatening.
Stroke is a major cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, stroke was the second leading cause of death in the world in 2023, responsible for about 11% of all deaths (around 6.8 million).
Tanda awal strok: how do you spot a stroke with FAST?
The main symptoms of a stroke can happen suddenly. The easiest way to remember them is the word FAST:
| Letter | What to check | What you may see |
|---|---|---|
| Face | Ask the person to smile | One side of the face may droop (fall), and it may be hard to smile; the mouth or eye may have dropped |
| Arms | Ask them to lift both arms | They may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in 1 arm |
| Speech | Ask them to say something simple | Speech may be slurred, garbled or confused, or they may not be able to talk or understand you |
| Time | Act immediately | Call 999 straight away if you see any of these signs |
In Malaysia, 999 is the emergency number for an ambulance.
What are the other symptoms of a stroke?
According to the NHS, other signs that you or someone else may be having a stroke include:
- weakness or numbness down 1 side of the body;
- blurred vision or loss of sight in 1 or both eyes;
- finding it difficult to speak or think of words;
- confusion and memory loss;
- feeling dizzy or falling over;
- a severe headache;
- feeling or being sick.
Symptoms of a stroke can sometimes stop after a short time, so you may think you are OK. Even if this happens, get medical help straight away.
Many of these symptoms have other, less serious causes too. For example, numbness in the hands is often caused by nerve problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and dizziness is often caused by inner ear problems; see our guides to tangan kebas and vertigo. But when these symptoms come on suddenly, especially on one side of the body, treat them as a possible stroke.
What is a minor stroke or mini stroke (TIA)?
People often search for "minor stroke" or "mild stroke". The condition most often called a "mini stroke" is a transient ischaemic attack (TIA). According to the NHS:
- a TIA is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain;
- it causes sudden symptoms similar to a stroke, such as speech and vision problems and numbness or weakness in the face, arms and legs;
- the effects last a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolve within 24 hours;
- in the early stages, it is not possible to tell whether someone is having a TIA or a full stroke.
A TIA is a warning sign that you may be at risk of a full stroke in the near future. Call 999 even if the symptoms disappear while you wait for the ambulance; you still need to be assessed in hospital. If you think you had a TIA in the past but did not get medical advice, make an urgent appointment with a doctor.
What are the types of stroke?
Tests such as blood tests, brain scans (CT or MRI) and an ECG of the heart show what type of stroke someone has had. According to the NHS, the types include:
| Type | What happens | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Ischaemic stroke | A blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain | The most common type of stroke |
| Haemorrhagic stroke | A blood vessel bursts | Treatment differs from an ischaemic stroke, which is why scans are needed |
| TIA (mini stroke) | Stroke symptoms that last less than 24 hours | Should be treated as urgent, as it can be followed by a full stroke |
Punca strok: who is at higher risk?
A stroke can happen to anyone at any age, but according to the NHS your risk may be higher if:
- you are over 50 years old;
- you are from a Black or South Asian background;
- you have an unhealthy lifestyle, such as smoking, drinking a lot of alcohol or being overweight;
- you have migraines (see our guide to migrain);
- you take the combined contraceptive pill;
- you are pregnant and have pre-eclampsia, or you have just had a baby.
Certain conditions also increase the risk of stroke:
- high blood pressure (see our guide to darah tinggi);
- diabetes (see kencing manis);
- high cholesterol (see kolesterol tinggi);
- an irregular, fast heartbeat (atrial fibrillation);
- a previous TIA (mini stroke).
What should you do if someone is having a stroke?
If you think someone is having a stroke, or has had stroke signs in the last 24 hours even if they have stopped:
- call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance;
- do not drive yourself to the emergency department;
- do not wait to see if the symptoms get better;
- if the person cannot speak, the medical team may ask you about their symptoms, which helps them work out what type of stroke it is.
Getting to hospital quickly matters because emergency treatments, such as medicine to break down blood clots in the brain, are given in the first 24 hours after a stroke.
How is a stroke treated?
According to the NHS, treatment depends on the type of stroke. In the first 24 hours, treatment may include:
- medicine to get rid of blood clots in the brain (thrombolysis);
- surgery to remove a blood clot (thrombectomy) or drain fluid from the brain;
- a procedure to stop pressure building up inside the skull or brain.
Longer-term medicines may include anticoagulants to stop blood clots forming, medicines to lower blood pressure, and statins to lower cholesterol. After a TIA, treatment aims to prevent a full stroke and may include lifestyle advice, medicines and, in some cases, surgery to unblock the carotid arteries in the neck.
What is recovery after a stroke like?
Strokes affect people in different ways. According to the NHS, some people recover within days or weeks, while for others recovery takes months or years and may mean making life changes. A recovery plan may include:
- physiotherapy and exercises to help with movement and numbness down 1 side of the body;
- exercises to help with speech, swallowing and vision;
- activities to improve memory, concentration, thinking and mood;
- talking therapy (CBT) to help with anxiety, depression and tiredness;
- help with bowel or bladder problems.
Rehabilitation exercises are often hard work, but they help people make progress, and involving family and friends can help too. Caring for someone after a stroke can be difficult and lonely, so carers should get support as well.
How can you lower your risk of a stroke?
If you have had a stroke or TIA, you are more at risk of having another one, but there are things you can do. The NHS advises:
- quit smoking;
- eat a healthy, balanced diet;
- exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight;
- cut down on alcohol;
- take your medicines for conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and talk to your doctor if you have any problems with them.
The same steps help lower the risk of a first stroke too.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is angin ahmar (strok)?
Angin ahmar is the Malay term for a stroke (strok). A stroke happens when blood stops flowing to part of the brain, either because a blood clot blocks a blood vessel or because a blood vessel bursts. It can affect speech and movement, can be life-threatening, and needs emergency treatment in hospital.
What are the early signs of a stroke (tanda awal strok)?
Remember FAST: Face, one side may droop and it may be hard to smile; Arms, the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm; Speech, words may be slurred or confused; Time, call 999 immediately. Other signs include sudden weakness or numbness down one side of the body, blurred vision or loss of sight, confusion, dizziness or falling over, and a severe headache.
What is a minor stroke or mini stroke?
A 'mini stroke' usually means a transient ischaemic attack (TIA): a temporary disruption of blood supply to part of the brain that causes stroke-like symptoms lasting a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolving within 24 hours. A TIA is a warning sign of a possible full stroke. In the early stages it is not possible to tell a TIA from a stroke, so call 999 even if symptoms are mild or go away.
Can young people have a stroke?
Yes. A stroke is more likely as you get older, and the NHS lists being over 50 as a risk factor, but a stroke can happen at any age. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, smoking, an unhealthy lifestyle, migraines, the combined contraceptive pill, pre-eclampsia and having just had a baby.
What causes a stroke (punca strok)?
Most strokes are ischaemic strokes, caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow to the brain. A haemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. Your risk is higher with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, an irregular fast heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), a previous TIA, smoking, heavy drinking and obesity.
What should I do if someone is having a stroke?
Call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. Do not drive yourself to hospital, and do not wait to see if the symptoms get better: even if they stop, the person still needs to be checked in hospital. If the person cannot speak, the medical team may ask you about their symptoms.
Can a stroke be prevented?
You can lower your risk. The NHS advises not smoking, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, keeping a healthy weight, cutting down on alcohol, and taking medicines for conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes as prescribed. After a stroke or TIA, your risk of another stroke is higher, so these steps and any prescribed treatment are especially important.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. If you think someone is having a stroke, call 999 immediately. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
