PETALING JAYA, Oct 26: Being aware of the onset of a stroke is vital because timely intervention can greatly affect outcomes, thus reducing the risk of long-term disability or death.
The symptoms of an impending stroke can be categorised under four key letters – F.A.S.T.
Face Drooping: One side of the face may droop or feel numb. Ask the person to smile — look for unevenness.
Arm Weakness: One arm may feel weak or numb. Ask the person to raise both arms; one may drift downward.
Speech Difficulties: Slurred or confused speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence — check for clarity.
Time to Call Emergency Services: If any of these symptoms are present, call for help immediately.
There are two main types of stroke — ischemic (caused by a blockage) and hemorrhagic (caused by bleeding). The common risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. Family history and age also play a role.
Recently more than 50 people including senior citizens and stroke caregivers were given tips on how to mitigate several “hidden” risk factors of stroke which are beyond the well-known “triple highs” of high cholesterol, high blood pressure or high blood sugar.
The talk on “Fear Factors of Stroke – How to Overcome Them” in conjunction with World Stroke Day was hosted by senior living specialist Care Concierge here in collaboration with RENN Asia Wellness, a centre specialising in personalised, evidence-based nutritional and functional medicine (NFM), and supported by the National Stroke Association of Malaysia (NASAM).
Care Concierge CEO Martin Yap said the partnership with RENN Asia aligned with its mission to make adjunctive stroke care more accessible.
CEO and founder of RENN Asia Wellness Jonathan Chew said Care Concierge’s initiative to offer NFM services reflected its standard of care and service.
Yap said there was an urgent need for increased public awareness around stroke prevention, particularly as Malaysia sees a rise in non-communicable diseases due to lifestyle and dietary factors.
Chew also spoke of the little-known risk factors in arterial stiffness, and blood markers for ferritin and homocysteine.
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your body. Elevated ferritin levels can indicate inflammation or oxidative stress, both of which are relevant in stroke patients. High ferritin levels have been associated with worse outcomes in stroke patients as they may reflect an underlying inflammatory state that can exacerbate brain injury. Homocysteine is an amino acid whose elevated levels are linked to an increased risk of stroke.
It has been estimated that about 40 per cent of all stroke cases in Malaysia involve those aged 65 years and above.
T. Kathiravan, Head of Rehabilitation at NASAM, outlined the association’s rehabilitation efforts for stroke survivors, reinforcing the importance of ongoing support and recovery solutions.
“According to the statistics department, stroke was the third most common cause of death in Malaysia last year. Defined as the silent killer, stroke is something that we shouldn’t take lightly.
“Our objective at NASAM is to create awareness that stroke incidence can be reduced. Early rehabilitation reduces long-term dependency, and there is life after stroke.
“We have to inform the public that there is still life after stroke through proper rehabilitation and to promote stroke prevention.”
The Memorandum of Understanding between Care Concierge and RENN Asia Wellness was also witnessed by Dato’ Sri Steve Yap, President of both the Federation of Complementary and Natural Medicine Associations Malaysia and the Association of Nutritional & Functional Medicine Practitioners Malaysia, who later spoke on “Nutritional & Functional Medicine in Stroke Prevention.”
WE