Stroke numbers prompt call for Barbadians to focus on prevention

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trokes occur at least twice a day in Barbados, according to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Acting Chief Physiotherapist, Dr Stacey Boyce, who urged Barbadians to know their blood pressure numbers, recognise warning signs, and stay physically active.

Dr Boyce disclosed the findings to mark World Physiotherapy Day, observed across Barbados on Tuesday.

This year’s focus is cardiovascular disease, stroke management and prevention, and the role physiotherapists play in managing and preventing strokes.

“Strokes happen at least twice a day in Barbados, and that’s an alarming number,” she revealed at the QEH Open Day event.

“We want to encourage persons to practice prevention. If you do get a stroke, there is still hope for you. We would encourage you to see your physiotherapist and get involved in physical exercise so that you can be functional and independent even after you’ve had a stroke.”

Dr Boyce explained that stroke rehabilitation could be a lengthy process, particularly for people who suffer moderate to severe disabilities.

“Strokes are one of those difficult conditions to manage. I mean, persons can get strokes where they have mild disability, but there are also several people who have moderate to severe disability,” she said. “That is very difficult to rehabilitate, and having a stroke can take a long time to rehabilitate.”

She compared the recovery period for a stroke with that of a physical injury.

“If you have a biceps injury, it can take six weeks. A stroke can take up to maybe a year or even more, and even so…[a stroke patient] might not get back to their full level of function, but the hope is that you can get back to some measure of independent function, and a better quality of life.”

She stated that some people have been able to return to work following physiotherapy intervention.

“We’ve had persons after physio intervention being able to go back to work and go back to some measure of normalcy, but our topic for today, our prevailing message is that prevention is better than cure, so do what you need to do to avoid having cardiovascular disease.”

Dr Boyce also revealed that high blood pressure is one of the factors that can lead to strokes and urged Barbadians to know their numbers.

“Persons might not be aware that something is wrong because high blood pressure is one of the reasons that can lead to strokes; if you don’t know that you’re hypertensive, you can have a stroke.”

She encouraged the public to recognise the warning signs of a stroke.

“If you are having… facial twisting, slurred speech, weakness on one side, impaired balance, don’t just assume that you’re having a bad day. Just make sure that you get to the hospital and get checked because if it is a stroke, time is important in getting care, proper management and outcomes.”

Dr Boyce also explained that not everyone will experience the same symptoms.

“One person might just get slurred speech, while another person might get weakness on one side or may have impaired balance. Some persons might have a severe headache that might cue them in that something is wrong. So those are the kind of things to look out for.”

Dr Boyce encouraged Barbadians to stay physically active throughout their lives as a stroke prevention measure.

“Stay active across their lifespan from childhood into adulthood. We want to encourage activity. We want to encourage movement.”

She stressed that the heart, like other muscles in the body, needs exercise.

“The heart, just like the biceps, is also a muscle, and if we don’t work it, it can get weak, and it can cause us issues.”

She continued: “We want to encourage everybody to get involved in some measure of physical activity, whether it’s running, walking, cycling, dancing – pick whichever one works for you, but the important thing is to get moving in order to stay healthy.

For people who are extremely busy, a rehabilitation bicycle or stationary foot-pedal exercise bike works well for those who sit at their desks often. She encouraged them to buy a sturdy one that fits under their workstation.

Dr Boyce also recommended five-minute arm punches and brisk walking to get the heart pumping: “If you are going to walk, make it count.”

She noted that physiotherapy has many roles, explaining that it can help treat patients from neonates through to geriatrics and manage conditions ranging from musculoskeletal and sports injuries to neurological conditions, cardiovascular disease, vertigo and amputations.

The Barbados Physical Therapy Association will also host an inclusive walk/run on September 13, with 3K and 5K options available.

The event is designed to accommodate runners, walkers and people using wheelchairs, scooters and motorised chairs, with Boyce encouraging the public to take part.

 

(LG)