Focus on preventing strokes in the indigenous community
September 05, 2018
Stroke Foundation is joining with indigenous elders in Tamworth to raise awareness of stroke.
Local stroke survivors will speak about their experiences at Tamworth Community Centre on Wednesday September 5 as part of National Stroke Week.
Aunty Pam Smith from Narrabri will be among the speakers at “Our Stroke Story”. The elder has had three strokes and knows too well the impact the disease can have on your life.
“My first brush with stroke was a TIA (Trans Ischemic Attack or mini stroke). I had no idea what was going on. It was a wake-up call for me,” Aunty Pam said.
“It prompted me to learn more about the risk factors for stroke and how to detect one. It is always a medical emergency and you must call Triple zero (000) straight away.
“There is no time to waste. The faster the treatment, the better the chance of recovery,” she said.
This year alone, more than 440 strokes will be experienced by people in the New England region. Stroke is one of the country’s biggest killers and a leading cause of disability.
Alarmingly, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community has a much greater risk of stroke than the non-indigenous population.
Recently released Australian National University research, found around one-third to a half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their 40s, 50s and 60s were at high risk of future heart attack or stroke. It also found risk increased substantially with age and starts earlier than previously thought, with high levels of risk were occurring in people younger than 35.
Stroke Foundation New South Wales State Manager Teresa Howarth said there was one stroke every nine minutes in Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were overrepresented in stroke statistics.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are twice as likely to be hospitalised with stroke and 1.4 times as likely to die from stroke than non-indigenous Australians,’’ Ms Howarth said.
Aunty Pam said several her friends had experienced strokes – some with good outcomes and some with bad.
“Too many people in my community don’t know what a stroke is and are finding out the hard way. I want to make a difference and encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle, so they are better positioned to avoid a stroke in the first place,’’ she said.
“Knowledge is power, and it can save lives.”
Building on National Stroke Week, Stroke Foundation’s StrokeSafe Ambassador program is a key method of increasing stroke awareness in the community. Stroke Foundation with the support of Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, is currently recruiting Ambassadors in the Tamworth, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour and Armidale regions. Ambassadors are volunteers who help share stroke awareness and prevention messages with local groups.
Teresa Howarth said stroke can be prevented, it can be treated and it can be beaten.
“We are urging all local residents to take steps to reduce their stroke risk,” Ms Howarth said.
“More than 80 percent of strokes are preventable by managing conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat) and by making healthy lifestyle choices.
“I urge people to visit their GP, learn about their risks and to fit good habits into their daily routine. This includes increasing physical activity, eating a balanced diet, becoming smoke free and only drinking alcohol in moderation.
“Every step counts towards a healthy life”, she said.
Local stroke survivors will speak about their experiences at Tamworth Community Centre on Wednesday September 5 as part of National Stroke Week.
Aunty Pam Smith from Narrabri will be among the speakers at “Our Stroke Story”. The elder has had three strokes and knows too well the impact the disease can have on your life.
“My first brush with stroke was a TIA (Trans Ischemic Attack or mini stroke). I had no idea what was going on. It was a wake-up call for me,” Aunty Pam said.
“It prompted me to learn more about the risk factors for stroke and how to detect one. It is always a medical emergency and you must call Triple zero (000) straight away.
“There is no time to waste. The faster the treatment, the better the chance of recovery,” she said.
This year alone, more than 440 strokes will be experienced by people in the New England region. Stroke is one of the country’s biggest killers and a leading cause of disability.
Alarmingly, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community has a much greater risk of stroke than the non-indigenous population.
Recently released Australian National University research, found around one-third to a half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their 40s, 50s and 60s were at high risk of future heart attack or stroke. It also found risk increased substantially with age and starts earlier than previously thought, with high levels of risk were occurring in people younger than 35.
Stroke Foundation New South Wales State Manager Teresa Howarth said there was one stroke every nine minutes in Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were overrepresented in stroke statistics.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are twice as likely to be hospitalised with stroke and 1.4 times as likely to die from stroke than non-indigenous Australians,’’ Ms Howarth said.
Aunty Pam said several her friends had experienced strokes – some with good outcomes and some with bad.
“Too many people in my community don’t know what a stroke is and are finding out the hard way. I want to make a difference and encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle, so they are better positioned to avoid a stroke in the first place,’’ she said.
“Knowledge is power, and it can save lives.”
Building on National Stroke Week, Stroke Foundation’s StrokeSafe Ambassador program is a key method of increasing stroke awareness in the community. Stroke Foundation with the support of Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, is currently recruiting Ambassadors in the Tamworth, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour and Armidale regions. Ambassadors are volunteers who help share stroke awareness and prevention messages with local groups.
Teresa Howarth said stroke can be prevented, it can be treated and it can be beaten.
“We are urging all local residents to take steps to reduce their stroke risk,” Ms Howarth said.
“More than 80 percent of strokes are preventable by managing conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat) and by making healthy lifestyle choices.
“I urge people to visit their GP, learn about their risks and to fit good habits into their daily routine. This includes increasing physical activity, eating a balanced diet, becoming smoke free and only drinking alcohol in moderation.
“Every step counts towards a healthy life”, she said.