World Stroke Day is a time to act FAST
RANDBURG – World Stroke Day – a day to bring an awareness to a problem that far too many South Africans believe is confined to the elderly.
Twenty-nine October marked World Stroke Day – a day to bring an awareness to a problem that far too many South Africans believe is confined to the elderly.
A stroke is a brain attack and is the fourth biggest natural cause of death in South Africa, where every day 360 people get a stroke and out of those, 110 people die and 90 are left with a life-changing disability.
“The amazing reality is that the vast majority of strokes are preventable. Educating people about stroke has all sorts of positive ramifications. While prevention tops the list, another key is teaching the warning signs and to react immediately,” says the Angels Initiative lead Carica Combrink.
A stroke happens when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off. Without blood, brain cells can be damaged or die. This damage can have different effects depending on where it happens in the brain.
It can affect the body, mobility, and speech, as well as how patients think and feel. The type of disability caused by a stroke depends on the extent of brain damage and what part of the brain is damaged.
It’s been proven that time lost is brain lost and every minute that treatment is delayed, more of your brain is damaged.
The Angels Initiative promotes the use of a simple acronym to help you learn to spot a stroke: FAST. Combrink said, “The warning signs of stroke are Face drooping, Arm drifting and Speech slurred, and seeing any of those means it is Time get to an emergency unit fast.”
It is important to make yourself, your family and friends aware of the signs of stroke as minutes matter when treating stroke.
While it is important to talk about early identification and treatment, it is just as important to talk about prevention.
Many strokes are preventable, and according to the Angels Initiative, here are some examples of how:
- Know your personal risk factors for stroke, including high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, elevated cholesterol, and atrial fibrillation.
- Control or manage these conditions by working with your healthcare providers.
- Be active, exercise and engage in physical activity every day.
- Choose a healthy diet.
“It is important to emphasise a significant element in the fight against stroke that is easy, quick, free and potentially life-changing and rather than focusing on alarming statistics, I prefer encouraging people to focus on the benefits of good health. Whatever you enjoy doing, you can do more of it for longer,” concludes Combrink.
Details: Angels Initiative www.angels-initiative.com
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