National Stroke Week 2024: Awareness, Prevention & Support

by Careseekers

National Stroke Week is an event that raises awareness about stroke, promotes preventive measures, and highlights the importance of early intervention.

What is National Stroke Week?

National Stroke Week, observed from August 5-11, 2024, is an annual campaign aimed at educating the public about stroke, its risk factors, and the critical importance of timely medical intervention. Organised by the Stroke Foundation, this week-long event seeks to spread awareness about stroke prevention, early detection, and support for survivors.

Why is National Stroke Week Important?

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In Australia alone, over 27,400 people experienced a stroke for the first time in 2020, and this number continues to grow.

National Stroke Week plays a pivotal role in:

  • Raising Awareness: Educating the public about the signs of stroke and the need for immediate medical attention.
  • Promoting Prevention: Encouraging lifestyle changes and preventive measures to reduce the risk of stroke.
  • Supporting Survivors: Highlighting the importance of rehabilitation and community support for stroke survivors.

Key Themes for 2024

This year, National Stroke Week focuses on three main themes:

Recognise: Understand the signs of stroke using the F.A.S.T. test (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call an ambulance).

React: Emphasise the urgency of immediate medical intervention to improve outcomes.

Recover: Highlight the importance of comprehensive rehabilitation and support systems for stroke survivors.

How do you know if someone is having a stroke? Think… F.A.S.T.

The Stroke Foundation recommends the F.A.S.T. test as an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke. Using the F.A.S.T. test involves asking these simple questions:

  • 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 see any of these signs call 000 straight away.

Tips For Stroke Prevention

  • Stay active. Inactivity or lack of exercise increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, being an unhealthy weight, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
  • Eat well. Limit your intake of salt, sugar, saturated and trans fats.
  • Quit smoking. Smoking doubles your risk of stroke by damaging blood vessel walls, increasing blood pressure, reducing oxygen in the blood, and making blood more likely to clot.
  • Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can cause high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation. It can contribute to uncontrolled diabetes and being an unhealthy weight.

For more information on stroke, please visit Stroke Foundation

To find disability support services, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/services/disability-support-workers

To find aged care services, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/services/aged-care-workers

To become a care or support worker, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/carer

To make a referral, please visit https://www.careseekers.com.au/referrals