Columbia Aged Care

A stroke is a serious medical issue that can affect your brain and disrupt the normal functioning of your body.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to your brain is suddenly disrupted. Blood is carried to your brain by blood vessels called arteries. When these arteries are blocked blood is unable to reach your brain.

When the blood flow to your brain stops your brain does not get enough oxygen, which can cause serious damage to your brain cells. If you do not receive medical assistance quickly then parts of your brain will be damaged beyond repair.

The effects of a stroke can vary depending on your body and the size of the stroke. Small strokes may result in minor effects. Larger strokes can cause a coma, paralysis to the body or sometimes even death.

If a stroke occurs it is important to know the warning signs and to seek medical assistance urgently.

The Stroke Foundation has some great advice about the signs and prevention strategies for a stroke. They recommend the F.A.S.T detection method to help you determine if someone is experiencing a stroke.

Here is the F.A.S.T warning signs of a stroke:

1. Face: Check a person’s face to see if part of it has dropped down. For example, the side of their mouth may have drooped.
2. Arms: Check if they have mobility in both their arms.
3. Speech: Check if their speech is slurred. Determine if they can still understand you.
4. Time: If any of these signs occur call 000 immediately. Calling for medical assistance quickly can mean the difference between experiencing a good recovery or a severe disability.

Your chance of getting a stroke is increased if you suffer from an irregular heartbeat, high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure. A stroke can be prevented if these risk factors are managed correctly by consulting with your doctor to receive the right treatment

You can start taking simple steps to reduce your risk of stroke, such as:

• Quit smoking
• Reduce your alcohol consumption
• Eat healthy meals
• Being physically active

By taking these active steps to prevent your risk of a stroke, and by knowing the warning signs, you can greatly reduce the severity and long term damage of a stroke.

For more information and to view the F.A.S.T warning signs visit the Stroke Foundation website.

Change in memory is normal as we grow older. Occasionally forgetting where you left your keys or what you where about to say aren’t usually things to start worrying about. Alzheimer’s disease is not a simple lapse in memory – it is much more complex.

A Place for Mom has provided a checklist developed by the Alzheimer’s Association to help recognise the difference between normal age-related memory changes and possible warning signs of the disease.

Warning signs of Alzheimer’s:

1. Warning sign – Memory loss: Often forgetting recently learned information.
What’s normal? Occasionally forgetting names or appointments.

2. Warning sign – Difficulty performing familiar tasks: People with dementia will often find it hard to complete or plan everyday tasks.
What’s normal? Occasionally forgetting why you walked into a room or what you were going to say.

3. Warning sign – Problems with language: People with Alzheimer’s disease will often forget simple words or substitute a word in that does not make sense.
What’s normal? Difficulty in sometimes finding the right word to say.

There is no clear cut line between what is normal and what could possibly be a warning sign. However, if you notice your loved one’s level of function begins to change it is a good idea to go and visit a doctor.

Read the full article here.