Wednesday 26th September

It is actually early Thursday morning at the moment.  I thought I would start going to bed at a reasonable time, however I then wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep so it might not be a good idea.

On Wednesday morning someone came to the Senior Centre to give a presentation on Stroke Prevention.   I don't want to bore you but I thought an awareness of the basics might be useful, we never know when we might be in the presence of someone having a stroke so I typed up my notes for you.

Notes on Stroke Presentation

Risk Factors – high blood pressure and diabetes and high cholesterol levels.

In this neck of the woods every second person in the population has diabetes because obesity is a major factor in its onset.  

Three types of stroke – (1) ischaemic, when an artery to the brain is blocked (88% of strokes are ischaemic)  (2) haemorrhagic, when a blood vessel to the brain ruptures (3) transient ischaemic attack – a mini stroke which can be a precursor to a larger one.  A TIA may only last a few moments but it must be treated in hospital if a larger stroke is to be prevented.  Regular medication is prescribed to prevent a major stroke.

Symptoms – the emphasis here is on ‘sudden’.   Everything is very sudden.  Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.  Confusion – trouble speaking or understanding.  Difficulty seeing in one or both eyes.  Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.  Sudden major, very severe, headache.   

Treatment for ischaemic strokes.  An effective treatment is a clot busting drug, but TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE – there is only a three hour window from the onset of symptoms for it to work, reducing the effects and permanent disability.  It was emphasised that an ambulance must be called, even if the patient can be driven to the hospital quicker, because the patient will be treated immediately on arrival when coming in an ambulance.   The clot busting drug can’t be administered if it has been more than three hours from the onset.

I think I need to have my blood pressure checked.  There is a weekly service for that at the Senior Centre.  And have my cholesterol levels checked, I will enquire about that from the nurse in charge of employee and volunteers health at the hospital.