Today we mark the beginning of Stroke Awareness Month to highlight and recognize the signs of stroke, the treatments available, the research that is underway, and the support for those impacted by strokes and their families.
Strokes are one of the leading causes of death and disability in Canada, with over 900,000 stroke survivors in this country. We know that stroke disproportionately affects women as more women die of a stroke, have worse outcomes after a stroke, and face more challenges as they recover.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, resulting in the death of brain cells. The most common signs and symptoms of a stroke include weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking, vision problems, and dizziness.
Thankfully, most strokes are highly preventable. As a lifelong athlete, I understand the positive impact healthy lifestyle choices have on our bodies. What we choose to eat or drink, and how much we move, are all decisions that can positively affect our health and lessen the risk of a stroke.
High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for a stroke, so keeping your blood pressure under control is extremely important. You can help lower and even prevent high blood pressure by being physically active. Tobacco use also increases the risk of stroke which offers another compelling reason to quit smoking.
Through the Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) invests approximately $20 million annually and leverages additional funding from partners to support projects that focus on healthy living to reduce the risk of developing chronic disease, including stroke.
In collaboration with all provinces and territories, PHAC also conducts national surveillance of 20 chronic diseases and conditions, including stroke, by providing reliable data and information to researchers, policymakers, health care professionals and the public through the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System.
In addition, over the past five years, we have provided $144 million through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to support research projects across the country. These projects include using artificial intelligence to improve stroke risk assessment, developing new imaging methods to better detect blockage of blood vessels, optimizing how medication is used to manage stroke, and studying sex and gender differences among patients who have lost the ability to produce or understand language following a stroke.
