Suspect A Stroke? Think Fast!

Heart and blood-vessel disease, known medically as cardiovascular disease, remains Australia’s number one killer. It affects nearly 2.5 million Australians. Together, heart attack and stroke (maybe we should call it “brain attack”) account for around a third of all deaths in Australia.

This year Australians will suffer more than 60,000 new and recurrent strokes – that’s one stroke every 10 minutes. Statistics indicate that one in five people having a first ever stroke will die within a month and one in three die within a year. Yet, early action will save many of these lives.

A stroke (also called a cerebrovascular accident) is the death of brain tissue resulting from lack of blood flow and insufficient oxygen to the brain. Another type of stroke (a cerebral haemorrhage) is caused by bleeding into brain tissue.

The signs of stroke could be any one or combination of the following: weakness or numbness, or paralysis – in the face, arm or leg; difficulty speaking or understanding; dizziness; sudden loss of vision; sudden and severe headache; difficulty swallowing. These signs may last only a few minutes or may last for several hours (called a transient ischaemic attack – TIA). They are often a warning of an impending stroke and must never be ignored.

Stroke is a medical emergency. If you experience the signs of stroke or see them in someone else, seek immediate medical attention. Prompt action can prevent further damage to the brain and help someone make a better recovery.

Think FAST is the message which has come from the recent National Stroke Week. According to the Stroke Foundation (check out their website at www.strokefoundation.com.au ), the FAST test is an easy way to recognise and remember the signs of a stroke and to be in a position to act quickly to get help.

Using the FAST test involves asking yourself three simple questions about the person you suspect might be in danger - and then acting quickly:

FACE – check their face, has the mouth drooped?

ARMS – can they lift both arms?

SPEECH – is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?

TIME – time is critical. If you see any of the above signs, call 000 immediately.

The risk of stroke is influenced by a number of factors: as we get older the risk is greater; men suffer stroke more often than women; and family history of stroke puts us more at risk. There’s not much we can do about these issues. However, there are some simple lifestyle changes we can make which will reduce the risk of stroke and reduce the risk of heart disease, as well.

High blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels are a major contributing factor to blood vessel disease which often leads to stroke. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels can be managed; sometimes just by sensible attention to diet and exercise; and sometimes by the regular, and usually long term, use of medicines.

If you do need medicines to lower your blood pressure, the possibility is that they will need to be taken forever. Sometimes that is difficult to accept; especially when, in all likelihood, there are no noticeable symptoms of the blood pressure being raised. In fact, occasionally the medicines themselves have unwanted effects. They may make you feel drowsy, dizzy or nauseated. If side effects with your blood pressure medicines do occur, you should tell your doctor and pharmacist.

There are other factors, too, which make stroke more likely – smoking, being overweight, having uncontrolled diabetes or having an irregular pulse (known as atrial fibrillation or AF).