I WAS 14 when my grandmother had a stroke. From that moment on, the woman I knew and loved dearly was lost to me forever.

The impact on her life was tremendous. Her ability to live and function independently was gone. Even simple daily functions like bathing and getting dressed became impossible.

She would get names confused and sometimes couldn't recognise faces. Her personality became child-like.

She also became wheelchair-bound and spent the last phase of her life as an invalid before passing away.

Watching a loved one deteriorate from a stroke is heartbreaking and without fast action after a stroke, we may never see them again as the individuals they used to be.

It's crucial that those who have a stroke get immediate medical attention, ideally within four and a half hours. The sooner the action, the better the outcome will be.

However, in many situations, this is not the case and delay in getting appropriate medical intervention may result in death or severe disability.

The prevalence of stroke in Malaysia continues to rise. According to Malaysia Stroke Council (MSC) president Associate Professor Dr Hoo Fan Kee, there are 50,000 new cases every year and this is a worrying number and a major health concern, not only among the elderly, as it is occurring among the younger generation too.

According to World Health Organisation data published in 2018, stroke deaths in Malaysia reached 13,799 or 9.80 per cent of total deaths.

"It has also become common among young Malaysians, where 40 per cent of those affected are below the age of 60," says Dr Hoo.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

Dr Hoo recalls a patient, a 65-year-old lady whose initial symptoms were arm weakness on her left side and the inability to speak.

Instead of seeking medical attention, her family brought her to a traditional medicine practitioner. She was sent to the hospital only 24 hours later. Tragically, she died.

Time is of the essence in such situations. Dr Hoo says if brought in as soon as possible to the nearest stroke-ready hospital, 40 to 50 per cent of stroke patients can be saved and fully recover.

MSC's aim is to improve the quality of stroke care in the country, he adds, and to ensure family members recognise the symptoms and get appropriate, immediate attention for their loved one in the event of a stroke.

Recovery is possible if patients are treated quickly. Picture: Created by jcomp — www.freepik.com
Recovery is possible if patients are treated quickly. Picture: Created by jcomp — www.freepik.com

Boehringer Ingelheim head of medicine for Malaysia and Singapore, Dr Mohd Azhar Ahmad, says stroke is one of the top three leading causes of death in Malaysia and has emerged as a major public health concern.

One in four people face the risk of a stroke in their lifetime, he adds.

People who suffer a stroke require access to high quality acute care as soon as possible so they can survive with their lives intact.

"Stroke is a medical emergency and our main objective is to help patients get the best possible treatment available and to prevent the next stroke."

This is where Boehringer Ingelheim's Angels Initiative comes in, he adds. Its mission is to increase the number of patients treated in stroke-ready hospitals and to optimise the quality of treatment in stroke centres.

If stroke patients are treated as quickly as possible and according to the best standard of care in dedicated stroke centres, their chances of survival and a disability-free life can be improved dramatically.

The Angels Initiative provides doctors, nurses and hospitals with the necessary resources, training and support they need to set up stroke-ready centres or hospitals.

Dr Hoo says if brought in as soon as possible, 40 to 50 per cent of stroke patients can be saved and fully recover.
Dr Hoo says if brought in as soon as possible, 40 to 50 per cent of stroke patients can be saved and fully recover.

FAST HEROES

AS some children spend a significant amount of time with grandparents or other elderly family members, it makes sense for young ones to be educated on the signs of a stroke and seek help.

Fast Heroes is an educational initiative aimed at raising awareness of stroke symptoms and the need for speedy action.

Children are taught to recognise the three main stroke symptoms and call the emergency number 999 when faced with a stroke emergency.

Fast stands for "Facial droop", "Arm weakness", "Speech difficulty" and "Time" to call an ambulance when stroke strikes.

A total of 28 countries have launched the programme. In Malaysia, this programme has so far educated 830 students.

The Fast Heroes campaign is a collaboration between Malaysia Stroke Council (MSC) and Boehringer Ingelheim Angels Initiative.

MSC president Associate Professor Dr Hoo Fan Kee says the programme will provide valuable early exposure for children about stroke and may save lives.

Boehringer Ingelheim head of medicine for Malaysia and Singapore, Dr Mohd Azhar Ahmad, adds that through Fast Heroes, children can help spread stroke knowledge among their family members.

"Together, we can save the world, one grandparent at a time," he says.

Fast Heroes is an educational initiative aimed at raising awareness of stroke symptoms among children and the need for speedy action.
Fast Heroes is an educational initiative aimed at raising awareness of stroke symptoms among children and the need for speedy action.

SPOT THE SIGNS

Be wary and do the necessary if any of these symptoms suddenly appear in a loved one:

*Numbness or weakness on the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.

*Confusion, inability to understand, trouble speaking.

*Trouble seeing in either one or both eyes.

*Dizziness, difficulty walking, loss of balance, lack of coordination.

*Severe unexplained headache.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — www.cdc.gov

Dr Azhar says stroke is one of the top three leading causes of death in Malaysia.
Dr Azhar says stroke is one of the top three leading causes of death in Malaysia.

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