Stroke treatment and recovery outcomes for Australians have evolved significantly in the 25 years since Australia's Stroke Foundation was established, but the future holds even greater promise for saving and rebuilding lives.
Stroke Foundation is marking its 25-year anniversary throughout October. As the only national organisation focused on stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery, Stroke Foundation is the trusted voice of stroke for all Australians.
It originated because Melbourne neurosurgeon David Brownbill AM and construction magnate Sir John Holland wanted to improve research into treatment of diseases of the brain and nervous system. In 1996, stroke was identified by Government as one of Australia's health priority areas of need and the fledgling research organisation formally became the National Stroke Foundation.
Stroke attacks the brain, the human control centre. It happens without warning and changes lives in an instant.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan said in the past if someone had a stroke, it was often fatal. There was little that could be done to save their life or support them to recover.
"Twenty five years ago, when a stroke happened, we watched and waited as families were devastated by the impact of stroke", "Advances in medical treatment now mean that when someone experiences a stroke, emergency treatment is available including life-saving blood clot-busting drugs or blood clot extraction in hospital. With timely access to emergency stroke treatment, most survivors can live well after stroke."
"That would be unfathomable 25 years ago. David Brownbill and Sir John Holland's vision for fighting stroke has made a difference for people not only in Australia but around the world as major developments in stroke treatment discovered here have been shared globally."
Ms McGowan said Stroke Foundation is excited to be part of an alliance developing the next world-first in stroke treatment.
"Successful stroke treatment is reliant on time – time save is brain save so the quicker people access treatment the better – and currently that's an option many Australians living remotely don't have."
"The Australian Stroke Alliance is focused on radically improving access to time-critical treatment by developing mobile brain scanners for ambulances, not just on the ground we aim to develop the world's first stroke air ambulance, which will be able to reach our most remote communities much faster."
The statistics tell the story. Every minute without emergency stroke treatment results in 1.9 million brain cells dying, the longer people wait for treatment, the less likely they recover well and be to return to the life they had. With more and more working-age people experiencing strokes in 2020, the increasing impact on working families, our community and the Australian economy is worrying.
The direct financial cost of stroke was over $6 billion last year, yet 80 per cent of strokes are preventable.
"The immediate impact of a stroke is the severity of that medical emergency. But that also impacts a family, a workplace, and the wider community – and that impact can last for years," Ms McGowan said.
"Our next 25 years at Stroke Foundation will be championing stroke prevention, equity of access to treatment, and more investment in recovery pathways to help people with stroke live well."
Key to early treatment is ensuring all Australian's recognise the common signs of stroke and know to get urgent medical help. Using the F.A.S.T test involves asking these simple questions:
Face Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms Can they lift both arms?
Speech Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time is critical. If you see any of these signs call triple zero (000) straight away
F.A.S.T represents the most common signs of stroke. Read about the other signs here.
