OUR GUEST SPEAKER - Toni Arfaras - Stroke Foundation

Toni gave those present last week a tremendous insight into her experiences with both TIAs (warning sign/mini stroke) and a stroke, which have severely affected her since she suffered the stroke at the age of 46 whilst on holiday. To the audience she did not appear to have suffered any disabilities as a result, but she told us about her loss of ability to read, drive, work, cope with maths and knitting. The stroke has affected her on her left side - she is unable to drink alcohol has even half a glass leads to numbness on that side 0f her body.

 

This occurs when brain cells are affected by the loss of blood. About 475,000 are now affected by strokes in Australia - partners, families, friends, employees - with 65% left with an ongoing disability which depends on which part of the brain is affected. 

It is the biggest killer in Australia - more than breast cancer or prostate cancer, with one person suffering a stroke every 9 minutes in 2020.

 

We heard about the STROKE AMBULANCE which is located at the Royal Melbourne Hospital to service patients in a 10 Km radius from the hospital. This is a specialist team with equipment and medication to assist with treatment which is time critical. Ideally this should be made available to patients within a 4 - 5 hour time frame.

Symptoms of a stroke are remembered thus: F = face - any drooping? A = arms and fingers (inability to keep steady) S = Speech T = Time (call 000 immediately)

Transport to hospital by ambulance and admission to Stroke Centre team may alleviate the severity of any disability if given treatment (clot medication) quickly. Geelong Hospital has such a team available.

 

Observe the following - diet, salt intake, blood pressure, regular doctor visits, cholestrol, smoking, limit alcohol, exercise