Rightways: ‘BE FAST’’

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

A leading cause of disability and fatality

https://youtu.be/Aq0DE5wzDs8

#NASAM #STROKE #StrokeSurvivor National Stroke Association of Malaysia (NASAM)

#NASAM #STROKE #StrokeSurvivor #Caregiver #Physiotherapy #OccupationalTherapy #SpeechTherapy #FAST #REHABILITATION

CONSULTANT neurosurgeon at MSU Medical Centre Prof Dr Badrisyah Idris explains, “There are two types of stroke; ischaemic and haemorrhagic. Occurring in 80% of stroke cases, ischaemic stroke is owed to a narrowing of blood vessels by fat deposits or blood clots disrupting blood supply to the brain. The remaining 20% is owed to ruptured blood vessels caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure or a weakened blood vessel wall.

“Stroke survivors suffer different deficits according to the affected brain area. They may suffer from memory and emotional disturbances, or be challenged by speech, vision, sensory, or movement difficulties. In a transient ischaemic attack, commonly called a mini stroke, the symptoms hit for only a few minutes or hours and then disappear. Mini strokes happen when blood supply to the brain is interrupted only momentarily, though the chance of getting permanent stroke within 48 hours raises tenfold and the risk remains high within three months.”

He adds, “With increasing age, the likelihood of getting an ischaemic stroke rises with the increased narrowing of the blood vessels. Other factors leading to stroke include smoking, obesity, alcoholism, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and high blood sugar. Lifestyle changes and treatment optimisation may reduce the risk of getting a stroke.”

Recognising an onset of stroke is crucial to reducing deaths and disabilities from delayed stroke treatment. Tools such as ‘‘BE FAST’’ help make an informed society to spot the onset of stroke and act timely. • B – Balancing difficulties
• E – Eye and vision disturbances
• F – Facial weakness
• A – Arm or leg weakness
• S – Speech difficulties
• T – Time to call ambulance

Treatment for ischaemic strokes includes restoring blood flow to the affected area by injecting a bloodthinning medication called alteplase into a vein in the arm to dissolve blood clots inside the brain’s blood vessel.

Another technique called endovascular therapy dissolves blood clot inside the blocked brain vessel by directly injecting alteplase through a small catheter placed inside the affected blood vessel, or removes the blood clot by retrieving it with a special device through a catheter placed inside the affected blood vessel.

For haemorrhagic strokes, the main goal of treatment is to control bleeding and to reduce the increased pressure in the brain. The high blood pressure must be controlled by antihypertensive drugs, and the effect of the bloodthinning medication needs to be reversed to reduce further bleeding. Ruptured blood vessels caused by cerebral aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations need to be treated by surgical intervention or endovascular therapy.

The recovery phase for each patient depends on the extent of disabilities resulting from the stroke. Most stroke patients need to undergo physical therapy to regain limb functions. Some need to undergo speech therapy to be able to speak and understand conversations.

Prevention of stroke involves lifestyle modifications such as controlling one’s high blood pressure and blood sugar level, consuming low-fat diet, fruits, and vegetables, avoiding tobacco use and practising active physical activities such as exercise, jogging, or hiking.

Source link

National Stroke Association of Malaysia (NASAM)

NASAM BACKGROUND

• South East Asia’s first non-profit organisation offering rehabilitation services for stroke survivors

•Founded in 1995 by Janet Yeo after her remarkable recovery from a stroke

> •Advocates ‘There is life after stroke’

•Aims to improve the quality of life of stroke survivors and their families and help reduce the risk of stroke amongst Malaysians through stroke awareness and prevention advocacy

> •Stroke specific rehab focuses on the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of survivors

•Services include physio, occupational and speech therapies, recreational activities, alternative therapy and counselling

•Long term mission to make stroke rehabilitation accessible to as many stroke survivors as possible

•9 clubs in Malaysia – Petaling Jaya, Ampang, Penang, Perak, Malacca, Johor, Kuantan, Sabah, Kedah

•NASAM is a non-profit organisation, depending wholly on the generosity of its supporters and the public
_________________________________________________

National Stroke Association Of Malaysia (HQ)
12, Jalan Bukit Menteri Selatan 7/2,
46050 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
contact: 03 - 7956 1876 | fax: 03 - 7931 0087
email: info@nasam.org | website: www.nasam.org
www.facebook.com/NationalStrokeAssociationMalaysia

OUR BRANCHES

NASAM PETALING JAYA
No. 12, Jalan Bukit Menteri Selatan (7/2), Seksyen 7,
46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 7956 4840 | Fax: +603 7931 0087 | Email: nasampj@nasam.org

NASAM AMPANG

No. 9, Lorong Awan 1, Kuala Ampang,
68000 Ampang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 4256 1234 | Fax: +603 4251 5360 | Email: nasamampang@nasam.org

NASAM PENANG

No. 6, Lorong Midlands, George Town,
10250 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
Tel: +604 229 8050 | Email: nasampenang@nasam.org

NASAM PERAK

No. 9, Lorong Pinji, Off Jalan Pasir Puteh, Taman Mayfair,
31560 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia.
Tel: +605 321 1089 | Fax: +605 322 4759 | Email: nasamperak@nasam.org

NASAM MALACCA

No. 5132-C, Jalan Datuk Palembang, Bukit Baru,
75150 Melaka Darul Azim, Malaysia.
Tel/Fax: +606 231 0177 | Email: nasammalacca@nasam.org

NASAM JOHOR

No. 59, Jalan Chendera, Serene Park,
80300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia.
Tel: +607 223 0075 | Fax: +607 223 0076 | Email: nasamjohor@nasam.org

NASAM KUANTAN

No. A2134, Lorong Kubang Buaya 2, Taman Happy,
25250 Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia.
Tel/Fax: +609 566 8195 | Email: nasamkuantan@nasam.org

NASAM SABAH

Kompleks Badan-Badan Sukarela,
Wisma Pandu Puteri, KM4, Jalan Tuaran,
88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Tel: +6 088 261 568 | Email: nasamsabah@nasam.org

NASAM KEDAH

No. 69, Taman Putra,
Kampung Tunku Putra, 09000 Kulim,
Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia.
Tel: +604 490 3479 | Email: nasamkedah@nasam.org