A Sunbury resident who watched her father-in-law have to re-learn basic activities after a stroke is spreading a life-saving message for the Stroke Foundation.
Chris Heyes has been visiting community groups across Hume for six years to deliver her warnings and encouragement. She urges her audiences to learn the signs of the preventable but often fatal affliction that affects one in six people.
‘‘Sadly, too many people don’t understand what a stroke is and what they can do to potentially avoid having one,’’ Ms Heyes said.
Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. They can be fatal or cause permanent or temporary disability. The risk of brain damage increases the longer they remain untreated.
Symptoms include facial and arm weakness and difficulty talking. Risk factors range from age and family history to smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, obesity and excessive drinking.
Ms Heyes decided to become a StrokeSafe ambassador after her fit and active father-in-law was struck down in his 70s.
‘‘It was so sudden,’’ she said. ‘‘He was never able to regain his ability to communicate. It was hard for him … it was hard for everybody.
‘‘Volunteering in this role is something that’s extremely important to me.’’
Ms Heyes is one of a growing number of ambassadors who can be booked by community groups for a StrokeSafe talk. ‘‘[It’s] a great way to learn lifesaving stroke prevention and awareness messages and, most importantly, how to recognise the signs of stroke.’’
Details: 1300 194 196 or www.strokefoundation.com.au
