MBOMBELA – The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) observes September as a chance to make a difference and raise awareness of heart diseases and prevention.
However, Mediclinic Nelspruit feels that the awareness is worth a year-long drive to educate people about strokes and other heart diseases.
A stroke affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the fourth most common cause of death and a leading cause of disability in South Africa.
According to Dr Allison Blair of Mediclinic Nelspruit, the effects can be reversed if it is treated within three hours of the onset of the condition, thus anyone who is suspected of having suffered one should immediately be rushed to a treatment facility specialising in this life-threatening condition.
“It has been proved that the sooner the patient receives appropriate emergency treatment at a medical centre after the commencement of the signs of the condition, the better their chances of recovery and survival,” added Blair.
She mentioned that the most common type occurs when a clot in a blood vessel disrupts the supply to a part of the brain. This causes the affected area to become starved of oxygen with rapid death of brain cells.
Blair added that too often people observe a stroke, but do not recognise the symptoms that include a facial drop, speech difficulty, arm and leg weaknesses and sudden blindness.
“These people may also experience sudden confusion or trouble understanding, dizziness, loss of coordination and a severe headache without a known cause,” she said.
Mediclinic Nelspruit has a multidisciplinary team focused on the rehabilitation process for those affected by it. This includes advice on eating patterns, exercise and other information on health education. Although there are a lot of causes of stroke, the most common ones are diabetes, high blood pressure and heavy drinking in your midlife.
Hypertension is often known as the “silent killer”, since many people don’t know they have it until it’s too late. A family history of high blood pressure could mean you have an increased risk.
Research conducted in 2008 in South Africa showed that there were 75 000 cases of strokes reported. Of these, 25 000 were fatal within the first 28 days. In 2007 there were 350 000 people living with a stroke in SA of which 35 per cent had moderate to severe disability as a result of it.
Of course there are ways to avoid suffering a stroke. These include eating less salty food such as bread, sausages, pies, margarine, soup powders, gravies, Aromat, atchar, crisps and breakfast cereals.
Other guidelines include
• Add less salt during the cooking process and at the table (rather use lemon juice, herbs and spices to add flavour)
• Eat a variety of foods every day
• Go for high-fibre starchy foods such as seed bread instead of white
• Eat healthy proteins such as chicken, fish, lean meat and eggs
• Eat low-fat dairy
• Eat lots of dried beans, split peas, lentils and soya
• Aim for five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables every day.
