National Stroke Week runs from the 2nd-8th of September, so what a great opportunity to help raise awareness and educate our readers on this condition. It may just help save a life!

Unfortunately, many of us know all too well how this awful condition can affect an individual and their family. Stroke is a leading cause of fatality in Australia and accounts for a large percentage of disability (1). It is also a lot more common than you may think, in fact:

One Australian has a stroke every 9 minutes (1).

A stroke involves a disruption of blood & oxygen to the brain, which can cause brain cells to die. The two most common types of stroke involve: 

  1. Presence of a blood clot in a vessel leading to the brain
  2. Ruptured blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain

Symptoms

  • Weakness, numbness or pins & needles in face, arms and/or legs
  • Dizziness & loss of balance
  • Nausea & vomiting 
  • Trouble seeing / loss of vision
  • Altered speech
  • Confusion or difficulty understanding
  • Difficulty swallowing 
  • Sudden, severe headache this is unusual to your usual headache symptoms
  • Neck pain with a combination of the above symptoms (Most often than not, neck pain is unrelated to serious medical events)

How to recognise & potentially save a life!

If you suspect someone is having a stroke, this is ALWAYS a medical emergency. You are not wasting ANYONE’S time if it is a false alarm! 

Below is a good reference to be aware of. When it comes to strokes, the faster a person can receive treatment increases chances of a positive outcome. 

(Image source: https://strokefoundation.org.au) 

Whilst there are some risk factors of stroke that are out of our control (age, gender, family history or previous history of stroke), 80% of strokes can be prevented (1).

The following actions can be put in place to reduce your risk of stroke

  • Avoid smoking or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
  • Engage in regular physical activity
  • Avoid foods that are high in salt and saturated or trans fats
  • Reduce stress levels
  • Regular check ups with your doctor to manage your cholesterol, blood pressure & blood glucose levels. 

Sources

  1. https://strokefoundation.org.au/About-Stroke/Facts-and-figures-about-stroke 
Dr Shane Peace
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