Medicus, Vol. 31 No. 1 Moždani udar, 2022.
Review article
Do We Recognize a Stroke on Time?
Arijana Lovrenčić-Huzjan
Abstract
Stroke is a medical emergency that requires urgent management for effective acute treatment to improve treatment outcome.
The time window for the treatment of stroke is narrow, so it is necessary to recognize the symptoms of stroke and take adequate and fast action that allows quick access of patients to the stroke centers. A working group of the Committee for Neurology of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia was formed to draft a Stroke Strategy, which was adopted by the Parliamentary Committee on Health. The strategy is in line with the Stroke Action Plan for Europe. The goals of primary stroke prevention have been defined, public health actions have been initiated in order to identify risk factors for stroke and stroke symptoms, and how to act on them. Professional societies of the Croatian Medical Association, Clinics and Departments of Neurology of Croatian Acute Hospitals, citizens’ associations and the Croatian Institute of Public Health joined the public health actions. Public health campaigns are designed through the marking of Stroke Day, as well as public health actions of the Red Dress Day. The acronym FAST (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time) was used to raise awareness of stroke symptoms. Such actions have raised awareness of stroke, not only in the target population, but also in schools and kindergartens, which will enable preventive action, but also timely action in case of symptoms in a family member. Croatia has 25 acute hospitals equipped to admit patients with acute stroke and active treatment of stroke. It is necessary to continue public health actions in terms of primary prevention of stroke as well as recognizing the symptoms of stroke, and how to act at a critical moment.
Keywords
stroke; risk factors; FAST; Red Dress Day
Hrčak ID:
275913
URI
Publication date:
2.5.2022.
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