Do you or does anyone you know have AF? Would you be interested in sharing your story with the Australian media and public?

Later this year, The National Stroke Foundation will announce the results of a new study into the impact of atrial fibrillation on the Australian health system.  To increase awareness of AF and the impact on stroke we will be speaking with media outlets across the country.

We would like the media to hear the individual view, so we are inviting you to help by telling your story.

We are hoping to speak to people from a variety of ages and range of life situations such as professionals, retirees, parents, grandparents, etc who fit the following profile:

•    Has had a stroke as a result of having AF
•    Has AF but has not had a stroke
•    Is a carer of a person who has AF as a result of a stroke
•    Is a carer of a person who has AF but has not had a stroke

If you would like to take part, please contact Janelle Yates at the National Stroke Foundation jyates@strokefoundation.com.au or 9670 1000.

Here at the NSF we are so thrilled that the FAST message is getting out there. After all the hard work spreading the FAST message during National Stroke Week last week, it is heart warming to hear the stories of people who have had better recovery outcomes after their strokes because they recognised the signs and acted FAST.

Our tea room walls are now full of articles about FAST that appeared in papers across the country for National Stroke Week. Each individual story acts as a reminder for why we do the work we do; to stop stroke, save lives and end suffering.

Knowing the signs of stroke empowers you to save the life of someone having a stroke. Click here to forward the FAST wallet card to friends.

Last week was certainly a busy one here at the National Stroke Foundation. We had two big launches happening in Sydney - the launch of the Audit Report (on acute stroke services) and of Stroke of Art (the exhibition that we’ve been going on about for a while that has finally hit NSW Parliament House, don’t forget to check it out if you are in Sydney).

There were dignitaries galore, with the NSW Health Minister John DellaBosca speaking at the Parliament opening of Stroke of Art, and Sandra Sully lending a helping hand. If you want to check out the pics from either event, see the website photograph section, or you can click on this link to become a fan of the NSF on facebook and see all the latest pics and news.

Our CEO says she felt like she had never spoken to so many media all in the one day!! Take a look at a sample of the coverage that we received  across the nation about the Audit report.

 ABC ,  The West Australian, Sky News, Sydney Morning Herald

What are your thoughts? Something needs to be done, that’s for sure.

Judi Halliday's painting for Stroke of Art 2009

The Stroke of Art exhibition will be opening at NSW Parliament House in just over four weeks.

This is your last chance to be a part of the celebration of Faith, Hope, Courage.  

Our target is to display over 500 postcards from around the country and we are almost half way to reaching our target - but we NEED your help to meet our goal.

If you haven’t yet returned your postcard back to us - this is a reminder to mail it back this week - so you don’t miss out on being included in the exhibition. We must have ALL postcards returned by Mon 13 July.

If you haven’t already received your Stroke of Art postcard and would like to order some of the last ones, send an email to admin@strokefoundation.com.au with your name, address details and number of postcards and we’ll mail out to you pronto!

Thanks to the thousands of people who have ordered the postcards. Please help us fill the NSW Parliament House with messages about stroke!

If you are thinking of takeaway pizza for dinner tonight perhaps you should think again.

A new analysis has revealed that 94% of pizzas sold in Australia are overloaded with salt.

Salt is a leading cause of high blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke.

Just three slices of takeaway pizza can contain the entire daily salt intake for an adult, which is 4 grams a day.

More than two thirds of takeaway pizzas contained double the daily recommended amount of salt for an adult and four takeaway pizzas contained as much as three times.

The worst offender was… drum roll please…Pizza Hut’s BBQ Meat Lovers, which provided 327%  of an adult’s recommended daily amount of salt (13 grams).

Remember to check out the label for the sodium content when buying food and thanks to AWASH - Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health for these tips on how to cut down your salt intake when eating out:

 
1. When ordering pizza, choose vegetable or chicken toppings instead of pepperoni, bacon, or extra cheese.

2. When buying ready to eat packaged foods, choose low-salt options: compare products to find the one lowest in sodium using the per 100g column on the Nutrition Information Panel.

3. Limit fast foods such as burgers, fried chicken and pizza.

4. Keep healthy snacks such as dried fruit & nuts or fresh fruit at hand.

5. When dining out at a restaurant, ask for sauces and other condiments to be served on the side rather than on the meal.

6. Don’t add salt to your food at the table when dining out.

7. Avoid ordering dishes that contain high salt ingredients including Asian sauces, cured meats and cheeses.

8. Don’t be afraid to ask the restaurant or take-away food outlet about the salt content of their meals and ask them not to salt the fries!

We are inspired everday by stories of faith, hope and courage from stroke survivors. This year we are encouraging everyone who has been touched by stroke to share their message with us for Stroke of Art 2009.

In previous years, we’ve invited stroke survivors to share their artistic talent for Stroke of Art, now we’re asking for words of inspiration.

The messages, along with artworks by three stroke survivors on theme of faith, hope and courage will be exhibited at NSW Parliament House from 3-28 August.

Judi Halliday, National Stroke Foundation Ambassador and one of the artists explains the inspiration behind her artwork, Hope.

“The journey since my stroke 14 years ago has been incredibly hard, it took a long time but at last, I’m back.  Through my stroke, I had lost the most important people in my life – my two little children – now, 14 years on, they are re-united and living with me. I have a second chance of happiness. In the painting, my son and daughter’s faces are held in my hands. My earlier painting is also shown to reflect my mood of pain, loss and hopelessness. That is in the past, yet I have captured it in the painting to acknowledge how hope has guided me from there to here.  In my heart, I have so much happiness. This painting is about hope. I want to live my life to the fullest.”

To share your message click here

There was a great story on Channel Nine news about the new CVD risk calculator for GPs.

Thanks to Channel Nine for letting us post up the video.

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