The “One in Six” theme was selected by leaders of the WSO to highlight the fact that in today’s world, one in six people worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime. Everyone is at risk and the situation could worsen with complacency and inaction.

The “One in Six” campaign celebrates the fact that not only can stroke be prevented, but that stroke survivors can fully recover and regain their quality of life with the appropriate long-term care and support. The two-year campaign aims to reduce the burden of stroke by acting on six easy challenges:

1. Know your personal risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol.
2. Be physically active and exercise regularly.
3. Avoid obesity by keeping to a healthy diet.
4. Limit alcohol consumption.
5. Avoid cigarette smoke. If you smoke, seek help to stop now.
6. Learn to recognize the warning signs of a stroke and how to take action.

This weeks tweets from @wstrokecampaign #stroke

Stroke Challenge 1 of 6 is “know the conditions that put you at increased risk of #stroke” - #diabetes, high BP, high blood cholesterol

Stroke Challenge 2 of 6 is “be physically active” + help others do the same. Physical inactivity is the 2nd most common #stroke risk factor.

WSO’s #stroke challenge number 3 is committing to a healthy diet. Can you help ensure your community has access to healthy food choices?

This Friday, observe World Stroke Day by taking on the 6 #Stroke Challenges. Two more: reduce #alcohol, #tobacco, help others do the same

World Stroke Day, October 29, is tomorrow. Find an event near you here #stroke, the risks & what you can do

Thanks to @decaturbit @jchybinski and @hchybinski for the RT’s

Fran Kelly from Radio National talked to Chris Levi , from the National Stroke Foundation’s Advisory Council and Director of Stroke Services at John Hunter Hospital, about the decision by the Federal Government to allow more people to receive ‘clot-busting therapies’.

Levi explains that the Government has extended the clot-busting therapy treatment window to four and half hours, an hour and a half longer than in the past. He notes that this provides an opportunity for an extra 5000-6000 patients to receive the treatment. He outlines the effectiveness of the treatment. He talks about the importance for the country to have a conversation about the signs of stroke in order to increase awareness of the symptoms, and discusses prevention measures. Mediamonitors.com.au.

Here is a press release from the National Stroke Foundation - Wednesday 1 September 2010

NEW GUIDELINES FOR STROKE MANAGEMENT IN AUSTRALIA

The use of “clot-busters” – thrombolytic medicines used to break up blood clots – will be recommended for use for up to 4.5 hours following a stroke, a change from three hours as previously recommended, under new guidelines to be launched today (Wednesday September 1).

The 2010 Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management, prepared by the National Stroke Foundation, also recommend increased rehabilitation services for stroke survivors – in total, an additional 16 hours over six months.

The guidelines will be launched today, Wednesday September 1, at 10.00am by Stroke Foundation CEO Dr Erin Lalor and National Health and Medical Research Council CEO Professor Warwick Anderson at the Sofitel Hotel Melbourne during the 2010 Stroke Society of Australasia conference.

The revised national guidelines are an important tool in both acute and postacute stroke care. Importantly the 2010 edition covers all the phases of care in the one guideline in response to comments by experts in the field as well as consumer feedback. The 2010 guidelines contain new information on fatigue, goal setting and secondary prevention measures, the amount and timing of rehabilitation, and has significantly revised many existing topics.

Dr Erin Lalor said clinical guidelines set a benchmark for optimal treatment of stroke based on the latest Australian and international research. “Thrombolysis as a treatment is recognised to provide excellent results for many stroke patients if given within three hours of the onset of symptoms,” Dr Lalor said.

We are very happy to announce that the Strokesafe Volunteer Program piloted in Vic in 2009 will be rolled out in WA thanks to support from The Danks Trust. To fill you in on what it was all about we chatted with Donna Fahie, our woman on the ground in WA.

Please tell us a bit about the Strokesafe Volunteer Program. And the program’s aims?

The Strokesafe Ambassador Program is a new initiative by the National Stroke Foundation. It involves trained volunteers conducting presentations to a wide range of community groups to deliver key messages about stroke and stroke prevention.

The program aims to improve community knowledge about stroke and stroke prevention.

The National Stroke Foundation is delighted in its success in obtaining a grant from the Danks Trust to roll out the Strokesafe Volunteer Program in metropolitan Western Australia in 2011. Victoria is the only state in Australia with trained Strokesafe Volunteers, and these volunteers are largely from metropolitan Victoria. The program is being expanded to include regional Victoria in 2011 with a separate grant from from Eric Ormond Baker.

For enquiries about the program - including to request a speaker or to express interest in becoming a Strokesafe Volunteer Ambassador - please visit Stroke Foundation or contact 1800 787 653.

Why is it so important to get the Strokesafe message out there?

Educating members of the community about stroke and how to prevent a stroke is an important element of NSF awareness campaign and directly contributes to the foundation’s mission to stop stroke, saves lives and end suffering.  Our goal is to save 110,000 lives from death and disability caused by stroke over 10 years.  Stroke is Australia’s second biggest cause of death and a leading cause of disability.  Over 60,000 will have a stroke in 2010 - that is one every 10 minutes.

What can you tell us a about the pilot program in Vic?

The Strokesafe Volunteer Program has been piloted in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs and our initial evaluation results are very encouraging. The volunteers spoke to over 1,200 people and conducted 50 community talks in less than one year. Evaluation results show that over 90% of presentation attendees correctly identified at least one sign of stroke and 96% correctly identified ‘Dialing 000’ as the first thing to do when they think someone may be having a stroke.

How important are volunteers in spreading the message of Strokesafe?

Volunteers are key to the success of the Strokesafe Volunteer Program. Many volunteers who apply to the program have been affected by stroke, either directly or indirectly. They are generously giving up their time, by conducting talks to community groups and providing important messages about stroke. Strokesafe Volunteers play an important role in passing on life-saving information to people in the community about stroke, stroke prevention and contributing to the National Stroke Foundation’s goal to ‘Stop stroke, save lives and end suffering’.