The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA), established in 1980, plays a leading role in the fight against preventable heart disease and strokes.
Between 28 October and 3 November, the foundation will launch its annual campaign aiming to raise awareness about the devasting effects of a stroke as they propel the idea that prevention is better than cure, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA celebrates Employee Wellness Week
World Stroke Week falls in line with the global stroke campaign.
Globally, the week culminates into World Stroke Day, which occurs on 29 October.
‘Harnessing the power of sport to be greater than stroke’ is this years’ decided theme.
The theme sets out to motivate individuals to take action every day to reduce stroke risk by moving more and encouraging early physical rehabilitation.
‘According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke annually and of this number, 5 million die and another 5 million are left permanently disabled, placing a burden on families and communities’ said Prof Pamela Naidoo, the CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa.
One of the pillars of the campaign is to create greater and deeper public awareness about the different aspects of strokes, including what exactly a stroke is.
A stroke is a cerebrovascular event which includes a variety of medical conditions that affect the blood vessels of the brain and the cerebral circulation.
A stroke, also called a “brain attack”, occurs when there is a blockage in the blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
Strokes are to your brain what a heart attack is to your heart. If the brain does not receive sufficient oxygen or nutrients, brain cells start to die which may be permanent in nature. They can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
There are two main types of strokes namely, an ischemic stroke which is caused by a lack of blood flow in the brain due to a blockage and a hemorrhagic stroke, caused by bleeding in the brain due to a burst vessel.
Both types result in brain dysfunction and are treated differently.
Knowing the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke is crucial for quick action and increased chances of survival. Symptoms include sudden weakness or numbness, loss of speech, confusion, vision loss, severe headache, dizziness, and trouble walking.
Prof Naidoo has stated that individuals having a stroke often do not realise it and it is therefore important that everyone, across all age groups, becomes aware of stroke symptoms.
The warning signs of a stroke are sudden and knowing how to recognise the signs of a stroke is an important first step in getting the affected person treatment.
An important ACRONYM for stroke symptoms to remember is FAST:
Face: Is one side of the face droopy? Can the person smile/show their teeth?
Arms: Is one side weak? Can the person raise both arms for 10 seconds without 1 arm leaning lower than the other?
Speech: Is the person able to speak? Are the words slurred? Can they repeat a simple sentence?
Time: If even one of these signs is present, act quickly and call emergency services.
The Foundation’s Health Promotion & Health Risk Assessments Officers state that post stroke care is very crucial to good recovery. The use of physical activity as a therapeutic strategy to maximise functional recovery in the rehabilitation of stroke survivors has a growing evidence base.
Furthermore, physical inactivity after stroke is common, but exercise training can help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, increase ability to perform your duties, and enhance quality of life.
In order to prevent secondary stroke, it is essential to promote low to moderate intensity aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises like walking, yoga, swimming or cycling and control other risk factors like high blood pressure. A stroke survivor can regain full function with regular exercise.
Harnessing the power of sport and physical activity every day reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases as well as cerebrovascular disease.
It is also imperative to commence physical activity and rehabilitation as early as possible after a stroke to ensure the best possible outcome for the stroke survivor.
Also read:
The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa to commemorate World Health Day 2024
Picture: Kaboompics.com / Pexels
