On the occasion of World Stroke Day, which is commemorated on the 29th of October, the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate within the Superintendence of Public Health, together with the Department of Neurosciences within Mater Dei Hospital, is launching a campaign aimed at increasing awareness of the initial signs of a stroke so that affected persons can be given immediate medical attention.

There are 15 million people worldwide who suffer a stroke each year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stroke is the second leading cause of death for people above the age of 60 years, and the fifth leading cause in people aged 15 to 59 years old. Each year, nearly six million people worldwide die from stroke. One in six people worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime.

In Malta, cerebrovascular disease accounts for 8.7% of all deaths and this rises with age (4.4% in 45-64 age group, 8.9% in 65-84 age group and 11.8% in 85+ age group) with the average age of death being 80.3 years (National Mortality Register, 2010). In 2011, there were 615 people who were admitted to Mater Dei Hospital with a stroke.

To this end, the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate would like to emphasise the importance of identifying the early signs of a stroke and early referral to hospital, since some types of stroke are treatable if detected and treated quickly.

The FAST test is an easy way for everyone to remember and recognize the signs of stroke. FAST stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time to act:

• 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 notice any of these warning signs, act FAST. Call the emergency medical services on 112 or get to Mater Dei as soon as possible.

A stroke occurs when parts of the brain become damaged or die. This can happen in one of two ways: either when a clot blocks the blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. A stroke can manifest itself in a variety of ways, depending on which part of the brain was affected. The most common signs and symptoms of a stroke are:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg

• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding others

• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

• Sudden dizziness, trouble walking, or loss of balance or coordination

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

The Directorate is launching a new leaflet giving details on how to prevent and recognise stroke “Stop Stroke Fast.”

For additional information on stroke and how to prevent it, contact the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate on 23266000.

Permalink: Campaign launch for World Stroke Day commemorated on Tuesday