What is a Stroke

What is a Stroke? How could a stroke affect your quality of life?

How do you know if someone is having a stroke? Think… F.A.S.T.

The F.A.S.T. test is an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke.
Using the F.A.S.T. test involves asking these simple questions:

Face	Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arm	Can they lift both arms?
Speech	Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time	Is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 straight away.

A stroke is always a medical emergency. Recognise the signs of stroke call 000.

A stroke is not a heart attack.

A stroke happens when the supply of blood to the brain is suddenly interrupted.

Some strokes are fatal while others cause permanent or temporary disability.

The longer a stroke remains untreated, the greater the chance of stroke related brain damage. Emergency medical treatment soon after symptoms begin improves the chance of survival and successful rehabilitation.

 

Facial weakness, arm weakness and difficulty with speech are the most common symptoms or signs of stroke, but they are not the only signs. Other signs of stroke may include one, or a combination of:

• Weakness or numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg on either or both sides of the body
• Difficulty speaking or understanding
• Dizziness, loss of balance or an unexplained fall
• Loss of vision, sudden blurring or decreased vision in one or both eyes
• Headache, usually severe and abrupt onset or unexplained change in the pattern of headaches
• Difficulty swallowing

The signs of stroke may occur alone or in combination and they can last a few seconds or up to 24 hours and then disappear.

When symptoms disappear within 24 hours, this episode may be a mini stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA).

If you or someone else experiences the signs of stroke, no matter how long they last, call 000 immediately.

A recent story from the Sydney Morning Herald regarding stroke:

“Limb by limb – block by block – the lights went out”: Richard Marsh.
“I managed to get to my feet and felt the earth spin. A headrush can happen to anyone who stands too suddenly, but this was much worse. I flicked my hand out to the wall. Instinctively I knew I couldn’t balance. My legs felt like they would give way any second. I needed Lili.

I could see the telephone on the desk in the dining area, about 4.5 metres away from where I was standing. On a normal day I could be there in under five seconds. I focused on my right leg and told it to move. I felt it swing forward about 15 centimetres, but it was lumpen, heavy, like it didn’t belong to me at all. When I tried to move my left leg, it wouldn’t budge. My weight was spread across my right leg and my hand on the wall. I knew then the only way I was going to be able to move was if I let go of the wall. I pushed my hand against the wall and used the momentum to swing my left leg forward … then my right, then my left, then my right. I was moving.

I retained control over my legs just long enough to reach the desk and collapse into the chair. It was a huge relief to learn that whatever was wrong with me did not seem to be affecting my fine motor skills. I flicked through the phone’s directory and quickly found Lili’s work number.

“Rich, are you all right?”

“Lili,” I slurred. “I think I’m having a stroke.” Read more here

You – and Your Risk of Stroke

To reduce your risk of stroke you can do many things, including:

1. Have your blood pressure measured every 3 months

2. Have your blood pressure treated – some people who live with diabetes need 3 different types of blood pressure medication to have optimal blood pressure. For some people even 3 blood pressure medications does not get them to the target of less than 130/80. However, their risk of stroke is still reduced by this treatment.

3. Optimal BGL’s / HbA1c

4. Healthy meal plan managed with your dietitian

5. Healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Prevention is Better than Cure

Having a stroke often means prolonged periods of time in hospital.

Initially in a stroke unit, and then in a rehabilitation unit.

This could be for many months, and puts you at risk of losing your job, reducing your ability to live life to the full.

Ask questions about your risk of stroke next time you visit your doctor.