Town Talk presenter Caoimhe O’Malley spoke to Fiona Connaghton, the Clinical Nurse for Our Lady of Lourdes/Louth County Hospital about National Stroke Week.

Fiona described a stroke is ‘ the sudden interruption of the blood supply to a part of the brain’. 10,000 people in Ireland will have a stroke in the next twelve months. One third of those will be under the age of 65.

 

What to look out for

Ask the person to smile – if one side of their face is drooping then they could be having a stroke, if one arm falls when they lift both arms or if they are having difficulty getting words out or cannot speak.

If you notice any of these signs it’s time to ACT FAST – call 999 or 112 and ask for an AMBULANCE.

The patient has 4.5 hrs to get to an emergency ward and receive treatment.

For more information you are encouraged to talk to the Multi Disciplinary Team at the Health Promotion Stand at the Drogheda Town Centre Shopping Mall  today Tuesday 24th from 12pm to 3pm and tomorrow Wednesday 25th the team will be in the Marshes Shopping Centre, Dundalk from 4pm to 6pm.

On Friday there is a Stroke Survivor Day in the Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin and it is free of charge. To find out more log on to the Irish Heart Foundation website www.irishheart.ie.

Fiona Connaghton talks about National Stroke Awareness Week - Download This Episode