11.08.2024
According to Stroke Foundation – Australia – 27,428 Australians experienced stroke for the first time in their lives in 2020, which equates to one stroke every 19 minutes.
Stroke can happen to anyone of any age. Men are at greater risk of stroke and as we get older our risk increases. In saying that, stroke is preventable for many. Some of the causes within our control include high blood pressure, being overweight, smoking, high cholesterol, a high intake of alcohol and diabetes.
The Stroke Foundation (Australia) has developed a series of new posters for National Stroke Week from 5-11 August 2024.
The posters encourage people to look closely at a friend, partner, parent for signs of stroke and to act swiftly if they spot:
- Drooping FACE
- Inability to raise ARMS
- Slurred SPEECH
- In which case, they should waste no TIME getting help.
The FAST acronym leads to calling emergency if any of these symptoms are present as Time is the biggest factor in saving lives and mitigating long-term side effects of stroke.
In Australia, 400 men a week have a stroke, and men aged 55-74 are twice as likely as women to have a stroke.
Speaking on ABC News (23 October 2023), Dr Norman Swan said the Lancet Urology had predicted doubling of deaths from stroke over the next 30 years, particularly in people under 55 because of obesity, diabetes, lack of exercise and inadequate treatment of factors like blood pressure.
He said stroke deaths had declined by 2-3% over the last 30 years in Australia, but had lifted since the COVID19 pandemic, most likely due to an increase in obesity and diabetes.
According to the Stroke Foundation, 45% of Aussie blokes don’t know what the common signs of a stroke might look like and may not call for help quickly enough.
More than 4 in 5 strokes are preventable. There are several things you can do to help prevent a stroke (or another stroke).
Work with your doctor to treat any conditions that can increase your risk of having a stroke, such as:
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- high cholesterol
- atrial fibrillation
You can also reduce your risk of stroke by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including by:
- staying active
- eating well
- quitting smoking
- drinking alcohol in moderation.
There are two types of stroke.
Both types of stroke stop blood getting to areas of the brain:
Ischaemic stroke
A stroke can be caused by the blood supply being blocked. This is called an ischaemic stroke. It is the most common type of stroke.
Usually it is a blood clot that blocks the blood supply. Clots help to stop bleeding from wounds, but they can also form within blood vessels, which are the tubes or pipes that carry blood around the body.
Blood carries oxygen and nutrients for your brain cells. Person’s brain can be injured if blood can’t get through.
Haemorrhagic stroke
A stroke can be caused by bleeding. This is called a haemorrhagic stroke (hemm-orr-ragic).
Blood can leak from a broken or burst blood vessel, which is one of the tubes or pipes that carry blood around the body. The leaking blood is like a bruise that injures part of the brain.
Always know the emergency phone number for the country you’re in right now and keep it handy.
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