June

4
06
June 2016 Health Australia Samoa Newspaper
STROKE ( CVA-Cerebrovascular Accident )
Stroke is a medical
emergency .
It occurs when a
part of the brain is damaged
because it is deprived of blood
supply and oxygen.
Stroke is the third most common
cause of death in Australia
behind heart disease and cancer
. It usually affects the over
65 yr old group and can cause
long lasting disabilities in terms of speech
and movement.
There are 2 main types of stroke :
1. Ischaemic stroke
2. Haemorrhagic stroke.
The National Stroke Foundation recommends
the F.A.S.T test as an easy way to
remember the most common symptoms of
stroke .
Dr.Paniani Patu
of a stroke but they are usually
temporary lasting only a short
time from a few minutes to a
couple of hours and are reversible.
It is important to seek medical
help immediately when
these warning signs happen as
they can lead to a full stroke if
ignored.
The treatment of stroke /TIA
involves urgent transfer to a hospital to ensure
no further damage to the brain occurs.
The management depends on the type
of stroke using emergency measures with
drugs and / or surgery .
Modification of lifestyle-
1. smoke cessation
2. more physical activities
3. moderating alcohol intake
4. weight reduction
5. Blood pressure and cholesterol control
as well as diet management ie low in salt
and saturated fats - may help slow the progression
of damage to the blood vessel wall
and prevent further strokes.
Long term rehabilitation with speech pathologist
and occupational therapist will help
with physical and speech disabilities and
assist with return to some level of functioning.
Support and resources
1 .www.brainfoundation.org.au
2. www.strokefoundation.com.au
3. www.heartfoundation.org.au
F ( Face ) check the face and see if
mouth has dropped.
A ( Arms ) can they lift both arms ?
S ( Speech ) Is their speech slurred and
can they understand you ?
T ( Time ) Time is critical .
If you see any of these signs then most
likely it is stroke and to call 000 straight
away.
The Risk factors for stroke .
1. Age -the older you get the greater the
risk
2. Sex – men are more likely to be affected
3. Blood Pressure
4. Cholesterol
5. Smoking cigarettes
6. Diabetes
7. Lack of physical exercises
8. Atrial Fibrillation ( irregular heart beat )
Warning Signs – TIA ( Transient Ischaemic
Attack )
TIA also called mini strokes occur when
there is a temporary blood clot and part of
the brain does
not get the supply of blood it needs .
The symptoms of TIA are similar to those
Ole Stroke (CVA) ose fa’amai e oso
faafuasei ma e tau leai ni faailoga e iloa ai
ole a foufou mai.
E mafua ona ua punitia ala toto ile faiai
e se potopotoi toto e amata mai ile fatu poo
ala toto tetele ile ua( neck) . E tasi foi lenei
mafuaaga tele o tagata e maliliu i Ausetalia
nei. E tele ina faatoa alia’i mai pea oo se
tagata ile matua ole 65 pe sili atu foi o
tausage ole soifua. E 2 ni vaega tetele ua
vaevaeina iai le stroke e pei ona taua i luga.
Ua faamatalina ele National Stroke
Foundation a Ausetalia e faapea o auga o
lenei faaletonu e faigofie ona taumateina
pe afai e silasila i vaega nei
1. Foliga – Face – ua pio le gutu
2. Lima – Arms- ua pe le lima ma ua le
mafai ona sii i luga
3. Tautala – speech- ua sauea tala ma ua
le malamama foi ini tala.
4. Manaomia le faatopetope ole vili ole
telefoni 000 mo se fesoasoani –time.
E fautuaina ai a vaaia loa auga uma nei
ise tagata e mautinoa lava le tulai mai ole
stroke ma e manaomia loa le vave ona si’i
ile falemai.
L-R Minerva Patu; Faletua Michiko Ete-Lima; Faletua
Senetenari Peleti Toailoa; Leota Tima Leavai (lawyer)
Faa Samoaina ole Stroke – CVA
O mafuaga ole CVA-
1. tagata matutua ua oo atu ile 65
tausaga le matutua
2. e mafuli ile itupa o tamaloloa lenei
faaletonu .
3. maualuga le fua ole toto .
4. maualuga le fua ole gao ile toto .
5. malosi le ulaula tapaa
6. faamai ole suka
7. e le lava le faagaioi ma le faaafu ole
tino .
8. e le tata lelei le fatu ae tata feto’ito’i
ona mafua ai lea ona maua potopotoi toto
ile fatu
ma agai atu ai ile faiai .
TIA- Ole faailo lea e ta’u mai ai ole a
foufou mai se stroke i tua atu ma e taua le
faia oni siaki ole fatu ma isi ala toto tetele
ole ua ( carotid US ) ina ia puipuia ai le
tulai mai ose stroke e afaina tele ai le tino
ma le tautala.
O lenei faamai ole stroke / TIA e taua le
vave togafitia ina ia puipuia ai le faateleina
ole afaina ole faiai. E iai fualaau ma ta”otoga
e manaomia pe a oso faafuasei mai .E iai foi
tagata tausimai e gafa
L-R Minerva Patu; Faletua Teki Uilelea; Toeaina Fatonu Rev Iosefa
Uilelea (Lotofaga); Afioga Fiame Naomi Mataafa (Sui Palemia);
Dr Seagaitumua Paniani Patu
ma le togafitiga ma e fesoasoani lea mo
le tautala ma le faamalosiina o aao pea le
toe migoi.
Ole togafitiga taua lava ole taofi lea ole
tapaa- faaititia le tagofia ole ava malosi –
faaititia le tino lapopo’a – faagaioi le tino
ma faaafu i le tele o aso –faapea le faaititia
o meaai oona ma le lololo.
A fia maua nisi faamatalaga mo lou
soifua maloloina ona faafesootai mai lea o :
Dr Paniani S. Patu ile tuatusi fou ma le
telefoni 0418 422 726 / (02) 9636 4611