Our guest speaker on Friday was Dr James Liddell who spoke on “Stroke and Stroke Prevention”.
James is pictured with Mayor Geordin-Hill Lewis at an event hosted by the CoCT for the THENA Project (previously recorded as the CT Interfaith Initiative).
James has a unique ability to share his knowledge with clarity and conviction. His professional advice is sound and sensible. We are privileged to have had him addresss crew on this critically important health issue.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is a serious medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to parts of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting the oxygen and nutrients it needs. This can happen either because a blood vessel is blocked (ischemic stroke) or because a blood vessel bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). When this happens, brain cells begin to die within minutes, which can lead to lasting brain damage, disability, or even death if not treated quickly.
How common is a Stroke?
▪ It is the third most common cause of death in SA.
▪ 66% of all patients are older than 65 years of age.
▪ 25% of all patients are younger than 45 years of age.
▪ 20% of SA will be a stroke or heart patient before age 60.
What happens when you have a stroke?
Strokes occur when blood flow is cut off to a certain area in the brain because of ischemia or when haemorrhage takes place and bleeding does damage to the brain. The area that is cut off determines which parts of the body will be affected. Left sided strokes affect the right side and vice versa.. Stokes on the right side of the brain can cause lameness of left arm, leg and can affect left side of face.
The big five symptoms to watch out for
Sudden tiredness or numb feeling in face, arm or leg on one or both sides of the body; Loss of vision or double vision; Difficulty in speech or understanding what people say; Sudden severe headaches without a particular cause; Unexplainable dizziness or tendency to fall.
Risk Factors
There are many risk factors for strokes such as: High blood pressure – 78% men and 65% women with high BP are obese.; Heart diseases like heart valve problems; Arrhythmias and coronary heart problems; Diabetes; High cholesterol – high risk of coronary artery disease; Low cholesterol – increase risk for strokes – latest research in Japan.
Treatment
Get to hospital ASAP; Stroke patients require intense observation for first 24 hours. Bed rest, oxygen and IV medication are part of mainstream approach; High BP and arrhythmias will also be attended to; Exercise – will start as soon as you can as part of rehab.
The above is a concise, comprehensive overview of James’ PowerPoint Slide-/Deck Presentation. A pdf of the full presentation is available on request from June. James was warmly thanked for his informative talk by Ralph.
