Lachlan Cornell
There is one stroke every nine minutes in Australia and more than 475, 000 Australians are living with the impact of stroke. The number in the US is close to 800, 000. A common misconception is that strokes just happen to elderly people but strokes can happen to anyone at any age – even babies can have strokes.
A stroke occurs when blood, which carries oxygen to the brain, is blocked. It is a medical emergency because the brain cells begin to die within a few minutes without oxygen. There are two main types of stoke:
Ischemic strokes are caused by blood clots and account for 87% of all strokes.
Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain and account for 13% of all strokes.
National Stroke Week
National Stoke Week was held on the 2-8th of September and The National Stroke Foundation encouraged Australians of all ages to become familiar with the common signs of it. By using the acronym F.A.S.T, it offers an apt and simple way to remember the process. Using the F.A.S.T test is very simple. You just need to answer the following questions if you suspect someone might have just had a stroke.
Face – Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms – 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 triple zero (000) immediately.
Beware of the ‘Mini Stroke’
A transient ischemic attack, or TIA, is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain. This is sometimes called a mini-stroke. Mini-strokes are usually your body warning you of a future stroke. Symptoms of mini-stoke happen rapidly and only last for a short time. Two-thirds of people who have a mini-stroke will have a major stroke within a year if the condition is not treated promptly.
Help continue to spread the awareness of stroke throughout the entirety of this month. Let’s make September stroke month not just stroke week.
Lachlan Cornell
Freelance Writer
rainbearwriting.com