In South Africa...
Stroke attacks about 240 people a day, regardless of age or gender. A quarter of these people do not survive, so stroke kills 60 people every day! Many who do survive have residual disabilities. Behind these numbers are real lives - don't allow yourself or your loved one to become a statistic!
The HSFSA is asking people to commit to the World Stroke Organisation's six stroke challenges:
Stroke symptoms and warning signs
Stroke is a medical emergency. If you notice any of these warning signs act immediately!
Call for an ambulance immediately, as medical help is very important within the first few hours. Remember that time lost is brain function lost! The faster you get the person to a hospital, the better their chances of recovery and you could save a life.
Some people who have had a stroke caused by a blood clot, may need special clot-busting treatment called tPA. In these cases, the treatment must be given within the first 3 hours of stroke, it is therefore important to know the time when symptoms first appeared.
Make sure that you and your family are familiar with emergency numbers. Keep these ambulance service numbers handy:
Public: 10177
Private: Netcare: 082 911 or ER24:084 124
Don't become another statistic - contact the Heart Mark Diet Line on 0860 223 222 or visit the HSFSA website at www.heartfoundation.co.za for more details about what you can do to change your lifestyle to reduce your risk of stroke.