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Stroke Awareness - 28 October 2018
Stroke Awareness - 28 October 2018
STROKE AWARENESS
Help at hand
Life after stroke is not easy, be it for the survivor or his family.
Rehabilitation is part of the treatment for stroke and professionals
can help survivors regain control of their lives.
2 Stroke Awareness SUNDAY STAR, 28 OCTOBER 2018
Unlike Judy Lee, stroke survivor Maria getting to the hospital and speaking
Othman (pic) did not have any risk incoherently to my husband about the
factor. What she did have was a ruptured pain in my head. I didn’t know what had
aneurysm. happened to me when I regained my full
Aneurysm is the ballooning of a vessel consciousness. Because I could not feel
that carries blood to the brain, which can my legs, I thought I was in an accident
burst and cause a stroke. and that my legs had been amputated.
According to Dr N. Ramesh “For a long time, I did not accept what
Narenthiranathan, consultant happened to me since I was healthy one
neurosurgeon at Ara Damansara Medical day and could not even sit up without
Centre, “Although aneurysms are help the next.
believed to be congenital, they can also “I was angry initially but eventually
develop with time.” accepted what had happened. With this
The only way to diagnose an acceptance and the help of rehabilitation
aneurysm, congenital or otherwise, at the National Stroke Association of
is through a professional Malaysia, I gained back my positive
health check-up since outlook and also some of my
unruptured aneurysms functionality.”
oftentimes have no clear While Maria could still speak, she
symptoms, making lost her ability to move or even sit.
aneurysm unpredictable Rehabilitation has helped Maria regain
and dangerous. her strength so she can not only sit but
Maria narrates her story: move around in a wheelchair and walk
“I was working late into the a few steps with help.
night and all I remember An expert diver, dancer and
was suddenly enthusiastic traveller, Maria
collapsing on top of remains positive about her
my husband. I did second shot at life.
not have any other “I am 59 years young
stroke symptoms since I am learning
such as drooping everything again like a
of face or small baby. I am still
slurring of alive, and I want to
speech. make use of it. I have
“I was only hopes that I will be able
vaguely to go diving again
conscious of someday.”
SUNDAY STAR, 28 OCTOBER 2018 Stroke Awareness 3
Understanding the
subtle differences
ISCHAEMIC stroke and haemorrhagic stroke risk factors and methods of prevention, they
happen independently of each other. are different in their manifestation and
Although both types of stroke share the same treatment requirement.
Treatment Treatment
l During the first four hours of stroke, l As haemorrhagic stroke is more lethal,
patients can be given emergency emergency treatment must be done to
thrombolytic therapy medication to control the bleeding and pressure exerted
dissolve the blood clot in the brain. by bleeding in the brain. Drugs will be
l In the four- to six-hour window of given to the patient to lower blood
occurrence, a mechanical thrombectomy pressure and slow blood flow to contain
procedure can be done to remove the clot the situation.
from the brain. l Depending on the condition of the
l Between six and 24 hours, mechanical patient, surgery may be required to repair
thrombectomy can be carried out if the the rupture or remove the blood clot
patient’s condition is eligible for it. formed in the brain.
l General cases can also be treated with
blood thinner to dissolve the clot in the
brain.
SUNDAY STAR, 28 OCTOBER 2018 5
6 Stroke Awareness SUNDAY STAR, 28 OCTOBER 2018
one or a few of
of stroke, but in some others, there l Severe headache, dizziness or undergo further treatment
are warning signs in the form of loss of consciousness, imbalance, such as physiotherapy and
minor strokes known as transient
ischaemic attack (TIA), which
loss of coordination
the blood vessels speech therapy to help them with
rehabilitation.
precedes a full-blown stroke,” he
says.
If such signs are noticed in
a person, it is important to
in the brain burst “Individuals who are at a high
l Sudden numbness in the arm, Treatment differs for the two mortality rate is higher with the stroke. For mild to moderate n For more information, call
leg or face, especially on one side kinds of stroke. “For ischaemic haemorrhagic stroke compared to strokes, recovery within six 03-7949 9999.