What is a stroke?
A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to part of the brain. The term “stroke” comes from the fact that it usually happens without warning, “striking” the person from out of the blue. A stroke is caused by a blockage of an artery supplying blood to the brain (cerebral thrombosis) or a bleed into the brain from a burst blood vessel (cerebral haemhorrage). Irish Heart Foundation Council on Stroke
The impact of strokes in Ireland
- Stroke is the third biggest killer disease in Ireland – causing more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer and bowel cancer combined.
- 10,000 people will suffer a stroke in Ireland this year. Over 2,000 people will die.
- One in five people will have a stroke at some time in their life.
The Irish Heart Foundation’s Stroke Campaign
Since 1966, the Irish Heart Foundation has been working to reduce premature death and disability from stroke and heart disease
In 2009, the Irish Heart Foundation launched an advocacy campaign for better stroke services in Ireland. The Irish Heart Foundation understands that providing a high quality of national stroke services, co-ordinating prevention, hospital and community care would be cost neutral, or could even save the State money.
Since then, the campaign has strived to increase public and political awareness of stroke and the need for improved services. It has raised awareness of the warning signs of stroke and the need to treat stroke as a medical emergency through a FAST campaign (the FAST acronym refers to the main symptoms of stroke – Facial weakness, Arm weakness and Speech problems, along with the warning that it’s Time to call 999). The campaign provides information about strokes to patients and their families; assists in the development of nationwide network of support groups for stroke patients; and supports the development of a Stroke Register.
The Irish Heart Foundation is asking people to join this campaign urging the Government to implement the measures that will eliminate avoidable death and disability from stroke.
For more information on the Irish Heart Foundation stroke campaign go to www.stroke.ie
Stop the destruction now
