This week 7-13 August is National Stroke Week, an annual event aimed at raising awareness about strokes, their prevention, and the importance of timely treatment.
A strokes occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is disrupted. This could be due to a blockage, also known as an ‘ischemic stroke’ or bleeding in the brain, or haemorrhagic stroke.
A stroke is a medical emergency, and the early detection and management of strokes prevent significant disability and/or death.
At Ocean Medical Practice, our Bondi Road Doctors & GPs have written this short blog, aiming to promote stroke awareness and outline our role in stroke prevention.
Recognize the signs of a stroke
Signs and symptoms of stroke include sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, confusion, trouble speaking, severe headache, and trouble walking. If you develop any neurological symptoms, it is important to see a doctors immediately. Although elderly persons are at higher risk of a stroke, it can happen occur at any age. It is important to recognise the early signs of a stroke and seek treatment from a GP or Doctors immediately.
Our Bondi Rd doctors can help prevent strokes by promoting health lifestyles, managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and unhealthy weight.
Here are some other ways our Bondi doctors and GPs at Bondi Road help to prevent strokes:
- At Ocean Medical, our Bondi Road doctors offer health checks, including blood pressure checks, cholesterol assessments, and blood sugar tests, to identify individuals at risk of stroke.
- For those over age 75, who are at highest risk of a stroke, our doctors offer bulk-billed health assessments
- During these health screens and assessments, our Bondi doctors conduct comprehensive risk assessments, considering factors such as medical history, lifestyle, and family history, to determine your individual stroke risk.
- Lifestyle and Preventative health: Our doctors and GPs can provide personalized advice on adopting healthier lifestyles, including advice on nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and smoking cessation.
- Medication Management: At Ocean Medical Practice, our doctors review a patients’ medications to ensure proper usage and reduce potential interactions that might increase your stroke risk.
- Chronic Disease Management: Our Bondi Road doctors help manage chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation, which are linked to increased risk of stroke. Where required, our doctors can also refer you to a cardiologist, neurologist, or dietitians to ensure collaborative care. .
- Our Bondi GPs work closely with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care plans that address various aspects of stroke prevention.
- In situations where in-person visits are challenging, we also offer telehealth consultations to continue providing medical guidance and support for stroke prevention.
- By fostering open communication and encouraging patients to take an active role in their health, our Bondi medical centre doctors and GPs can empower individuals to make informed decisions that contribute to stroke prevention.
- Our doctors are committed to continuous professional development to stay up to date with the latest research and guidelines on stroke prevention. This ensures our GPs are providing up-to-date evidence-based care to their patients.Visit Ocean Medical Practice today and meet our friendly team of GPs. We are conveniently located in the heart of Bondi, 15 minutes walk from Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction. We look forward to caring for you and your family.