June is Stroke Awareness Month, a time to remind Islanders how they and their families can stay healthy by learning the signs of a stroke, says Health and Wellness Minister Carolyn Bertram.
“Government remains committed to implementing a provincial Organized Stroke Care model to help improve the lives of Islanders who are either at risk of suffering a stroke, or who have suffered a stroke,” said Minister Bertram.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in Canada. In Prince Edward Island, approximately 350 people suffer a stroke every year – that is almost one stroke per day.
In April 2009, the Province committed to establishing an Organized Stroke Care model. This model not only made provisions for dedicated Acute Stroke Care and Stroke Rehab Units, which opened at the QEH in 2010, but created a coordinated approach with early assessment, mobilization and rehabilitation to improve outcomes for stroke survivors and assist in managing their risk factors going forward.
“Government was pleased to invest over $2.1 million into Phase 1 of the Model, which we are pleased to say is now complete. A Provincial stroke coordinator has been hired, the Provincial Acute Stroke Unit and the Provincial Stroke Rehab Unit are open at the QEH, and the Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic Pilot is up and running at PCH,” said Minister Bertram. “With this year’s budget commitment of $.81 million, we are now in the planning stage of Phase 2, and we look forward to the further enhancement of services this will mean for Islanders.”
Health PEI is working on Phase two of the project, which includes: Provincial Stroke Rehabilitation Services, Ambulatory Stroke Rehabilitation Teams at QEH and PCH, and Provincial Stroke Prevention Services.
To further support stroke prevention, and increase Islanders ability to recognize the warning signs of stroke, the Province, through its go!PEI initiation, is supporting the Women’s Heart Health Initiative. This Initiative is in partnership with the PEI Women’s Institute and the PEI Heart and Stroke Foundation. Women’s Heart Health has been designed to increase the awareness of signs and symptoms of stroke and encourage Islanders to eat a balanced diet and include physical activity in their daily lives.
Major risk factors for stroke include age, high blood pressure, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes. Nearly 83% of Islanders have at least one of the major risk factors for stroke and 45% have at least two. Stroke can be prevented. Organized Stroke Care promotes a coordinated approach to early detection and assessment of warning signs of stroke, and timely access to appropriate treatments and specialized health care providers.
The five signs of stroke are:
• Sudden weakness or numbness
• Sudden trouble speaking
• Sudden vision problem
• Sudden severe and unusual headache
• Sudden dizziness or loss of balance.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of PEI is a volunteer-based health charity, which leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living and advocacy. For more information on stroke, visit their website at www.heartandstroke.pe.ca
For more information on the Organized Stroke Care model, visit www.healthpei.ca/stroke.