The NWHHS Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator, Raelene Macnamara, set up a “know your numbers” table outside Mount Isa Hospital on Monday morning to test patients and the public.
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She and her community health team did free tests on those willing, including blood pressures, blood sugar tests, waist measurements, and diabetes and stroke risk factor calculations.
“Knowing your numbers is important in combatting stroke, so it was good to have a chance to offer members of our community these free testings,” Ms Macnamara said.
“We mostly reinforced the message that speedy intervention saves lives, and provided cards with the signs and symptoms of stroke. Our main aim is to increase public awareness so that people take the signs and symptoms seriously and seek medical attention as soon as possible, if they experience or notice any of the warning signs.
“We also encouraged people to ‘know their numbers’ regarding blood pressure and cholesterol levels and we highlighted modifiable risk factors such as smoking, diet, waist circumference, sedentary lifestyle, and excessive alcohol consumption,” Ms Macnamara said.
The National Stroke Foundation has produced a new acronym to help detect symptoms of stroke: FAST.
Face: Check their face; has their mouth drooped? Arms: Can they lift both arms? Speech: Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you? Time: Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 straight away.
