Stroke Month puts focus on patients’ needs not being met

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Hastings said these, and other, side effects go on to impact the survivor as well as their family.

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There are some 62,000 strokes in Canada each year and about 80% of people survive stroke. Hastings pointed out that only a small percentage of patients, around 16%, who leave inpatient acute hospital care get into inpatient rehabilitation. Only 19% get into these inpatient rehabilitation programs within the first month.

“The Heart and Stroke Foundation really wants to raise awareness of the signs of stroke so that people recognize in their coworkers or even their family and friends that a stroke is happening.”

Hastings reminds that the faster help is received the greater the potential for minimized deficits. The acronym to remember is F.A.S.T. Check the Face and if it’s drooping, check the Arms and whether the person can raise both, listen to the Speech and whether it is slurred or jumbled, and last is Time and if any of these symptoms are present it’s time to call 9-1-1 immediately.

Alan Frew, lead singer of Glass Tiger, is a major advocate for stroke awareness. Hastings points out that his commercials have had great success in garnering every day knowledge of stroke, saying it is always encouraging to hear personal stories of how stroke awareness campaigns changed people’s lives.

One such story is that of Nancy Smith out of Calgary who said after getting a call about her mom acting odd, heard one of Alan Frew’s commercials regarding F.A.S.T and checked her mom for the symptoms. She only had jumbled speech, but Smith called 9-1-1 anyway.

“She said she always thought you had to have all three signs of stroke,” said Hastings. This is one of the most common misconceptions that the Heart and Stroke Foundation would like to remind people of.

The Red Deer area is fortunate, according to Hastings, because there are stroke neurologists in Red Deer and the proximity to both Calgary and Edmonton provides for rapid transport.

“We have a system in Alberta and in Red Deer that is one of a kind in the world – the three people involved talk and determine the best institute  and course of intervention for the patient.”

The conversation is held between the attending physician, as well as the stroke neurologist and the paramedic attending to the patient. These three collaborate to ensure that the patient is sent to the facility which may provide the most positive outcome for a stroke patient.

“One thing that might surprise people is that there are 1800 babies and children that are living with stroke in Alberta and we have an amazing pediatric stroke neurologist who is a clinician and researcher and member of our board here in Alberta.”

It is estimated that more than 60% of children with stroke will have some long-term disability. Stroke can happen at any age and stroke in younger people is on the rise including 19% of hospital admissions for stroke and TIA being for younger adult patients between the ages of 20 and 59.

Hastings said Stroke month is a good time to be aware of your neighbors or friends who may be going door to door or reaching out to them online fundraising for better care for Albertans that are living with stroke.