More than half of CWM stroke patients suffer repeat attacks

More than half of all stroke patients admitted to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) in Suva have previously suffered a stroke.

This was highlighted by Dr Shrish Acharya, head of CWMH’s stroke team, during Fiji Stroke Observance Day last Saturday.

Dr Acharya said repeat strokes were a serious and growing concern.

“More than 50 to 60 per cent of our stroke admissions have already had a stroke before,” Dr Acharya said.

He said preventing a second stroke required carers to ensure survivors maintained controlled blood pressure and blood sugar levels, ate healthy meals and stopped smoking.

Dr Acharya also warned carers against common practices that could worsen a stroke patient’s condition, including massaging patients, which he said could dangerously raise blood pressure and worsen a brain haemorrhage.

Feeding a patient before medical assessment was also dangerous.

A 2013 study of CWMH patients found nearly half of stroke-related deaths were linked to lung complications caused by feeding patients whose swallowing muscles were too weak to function properly.

“Do not give food or drink,” he said.

“Whatever food or drink you are giving is going to go into the lungs instead of the stomach.”

He also urged carers to discourage the use of herbal remedies, which could interact negatively with hospital medication.

Stroke is Fiji’s third leading cause of death.

Dr Acharya said the youngest recorded stroke patient in Fiji was four years old, while cases had also been recorded involving a 12-year-old and a 28-year-old.