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Stroke

We provide a stroke service for people who have had a stroke and their relatives and carers. Stroke rehabilitation is provided in one of 3 (soon to be 4) stroke rehabilitation units in Somerset, following transfer from an acute hospital.

Rehabilitation is provided by working in partnership with the patient and family. It can also be provided at home or in a care home to achieve a good quality of life and maximise independence and recovery.

Every year, an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. That’s one person every five minutes. Most people affected are over 65, but anyone can have a stroke, including children and even babies.

Stroke rehabilitation units can be found at:

Shepton Mallet Community Hospital
South Petherton Community Hospital (inpatient and outpatients facilities for stroke rehabilitation are due to open in the summer of 2011)
Wiliton Community Hospital
Wincanton Community Hospital

What are stroke coordinators?

Stroke coordinators are qualified nurses with specialist skills in stroke care. They are based in community hospitals which offer a range of stroke rehabilitation services. They mostly work Monday to Friday.

How can you access the stroke coordinator?

Wherever possible, the stroke coordinator will make initial contact with new stroke patients while they are in hospital.

Arrangements can then be made to visit you at home within six weeks of leaving hospital. Further visits will be offered over a period of time to help you and your familiy to adjust to the changes associated with the stroke.

The coordinator can also assess any further health and social needs you may have and help you and your family/carers achieve greater independence.

You will be invited to attend a stroke clinic six months following the stroke, and then annually following this.

What services do they offer?

Stroke coordinators aim to provide a quality service to stroke patients and their carers by:

Being a named contact point for all stroke patients, carers and families requiring specialist support and advice
Helping to facilitate a smooth transfer from hospital to home
Identifying and, if possible, preventing further problems
Offering support to family and carers
Providing support for lifestyle changes
Offering education and training
Assisting with access to other support agencies, both voluntary and statutory
Identifying and clarifying any concerns or queries about medication
Helping to improve the quality of life for stroke patients and their families
Being a source of information and education about stroke and the recovery process

FAST

FAST is a 3-year campaign launched by the Department of Health in February 2009 to raise public awareness around stroke.

The campaign will inform the public about F.A.S.T. - Face, Arm, Speech, Time to call 999. F.A.S.T is a simple test to help people to recognise the signs of stroke and understand the importance of fast emergency treatment.

Facial weakness - can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye dropped?

Arm weakness - can the person raise both arms?

Speech problems - can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?

Time to call 999.

To find out more about FAST
NHS Choices http://www.nhs.uk/actfast/Pages/default.aspx

Stroke Association http://www.stroke.org.uk/campaigns/raising_awareness/act_fast.html

Stroke Risk Factors

What stroke risk factors can be changed, treated or controlled?

High blood pressure —High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and the most important controllable risk factor for stroke. Many people believe the effective treatment of high blood pressure is a key reason for the accelerated decline in the death rates for stroke.
Cigarette smoking — In recent years, studies have shown cigarette smoking to be an important risk factor for stroke. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the cardiovascular system in many ways. The use of oral contraceptives combined with cigarette smoking greatly increases stroke risk.
Diabetes mellitus — Diabetes is an independent risk factor for stroke. Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and are overweight. This increases their risk even more. While diabetes is treatable, the presence of the disease still increases your risk of stroke.
Carotid or other artery disease — The carotid arteries in your neck supply blood to your brain. A carotid artery narrowed by fatty deposits from atherosclerosis (plaque buildups in artery walls) may become blocked by a blood clot. Carotid artery disease is also called carotid artery stenosis. Peripheral artery diseaseis the narrowing of blood vessels carrying blood to leg and arm muscles. It's caused by fatty buildups of plaque in artery walls. People with peripheral artery disease have a higher risk of carotid artery disease, which raises their risk of stroke.
Atrial fibrillation — This heart rhythm disorder raises the risk for stroke. The heart's upper chambers quiver instead of beating effectively, which can let the blood pool and clot. If a clot breaks off, enters the bloodstream and lodges in an artery leading to the brain, a stroke results.
Other heart disease — People with coronary heart disease or heart failure have a higher risk of stroke than those with hearts that work normally. Dilated cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart), heart valve disease and some types of congenital heart defects also raise the risk of stroke.
High blood cholesterol — People with high blood cholesterol have an increased risk for stroke. Also, it appears that low HDL (“good”) cholesterol is a risk factor for stroke in men, but more data are needed to verify its effect in women.
Poor diet — Diets high in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol levels. Diets high in sodium (salt) can contribute to increased blood pressure. Diets with excess calories can contribute to obesity. Also, a diet containing five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day may reduce the risk of stroke.
Physical inactivity and obesity — Being inactive, obese or both can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. So go on a brisk walk, take the stairs, and do whatever you can to make your life more active. Try to get a total of at least 30 minutes of activity on most or all days.