WSO's patient education repository includes resources from around the world for people affected by stroke and their family and carers. Over the past few weeks, Lulu Broek, whose mom had a stroke when she was a child, has been helping us to update our list of resources. Here Lulu shares some resources that she found particularly useful from the perspective of a young person.
Strokes are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Understanding strokes, including their symptoms, causes and effects is crucial for everyone. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a caregiver or someone looking to prevent strokes for yourself and your loved ones, being well informed can make a significant difference. Fortunately, there are various sites available with useful information on this topic. Yet, sifting through all of the available information can be daunting, which is why I've developed a list of useful resources for learning about strokes based on my experience.
The Stroke Association
The Stroke Association is a charitable organization based in the United Kingdom dedicated to supporting people affected by stroke. Their aim is to prevent strokes and support those who have been affected.
Globally, up to 80% of strokes can be prevented through healthy lifestyle changes. This statistic emphasizes the importance of the Stroke Association's risk reduction guide for those aiming to lower their risk of stroke. Prevention is always better than a cure, and this guide provides a range of information on how to adopt a healthier lifestyle. It begins by explaining common risk factors of stroke and how these factors contribute to stroke risk. From dietary recommendation to exercise routines, the guide offers actionable tips and advice that can be easily implemented in an individual's daily routine to reduce their risk of stroke.
Stroke Association’s Risk Reduction Guide
https://www.stroke.org.uk/how_to_reduce_your_risk_of_stroke_guide.pdf
The effects of stroke vary significantly from one person to another, depending on factors such as the type of stroke, its severity, and the part of the brain affected. To better understand the varied impacts of stroke and how to navigate it’s aftermath, the Stroke Association’s Guide on Stroke Effects is a great resource. It features detailed information on the physical, cognitive, and emotional impacts of stroke with practical tips and strategies to cope and overcome these challenges.
Stroke Association’s Guide on Stroke Effects
https://www.stroke.org.uk/stroke/effects
Stroke Foundation Australia
The Stroke Foundation is an Australian non profit organization dedicated to preventing strokes and supporting survivors of stroke on their journey to recovery, through awareness campaigns and research projects.
My stroke Journey is a book is for survivors of stroke, families, carers and friends. There are different versions of this book: For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Easy to read and in Other languages. This booklet addresses the physical, cognitive, and psychological aspects of stroke recovery, and offers support to survivors at every stage of their journey. It is catered to a broad audience by avoiding overly technical medical language and using supportive illustrations to aid understanding. What I find particularly beneficial with this resource is that it empowers stroke survivors to take an active role in their recovery. This empowerment is crucial for stroke survivors to have a sense of control and make informed decisions about their care.
https://strokefoundation.org.au/media/psfbl2dq/my-stroke-journey.pdf
Our Stroke Journey For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
https://strokefoundation.org.au/media/hxmn4b1w/our-stroke-journey.pdf
Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery
Stroke Engine is a online resource funded and supported by the Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery and is designed to support stroke rehabilitation. It features detailed information on various aspects of stroke recovery, including assessments, interventions, and the psychological impacts of stroke. Stroke Engine includes guides to physical therapy techniques, cognitive rehabilitation strategies with the latest research findings and outcomes. It is also a great hub to find supporting resources with further information to assist stroke recovery.
Strokes are a significant health concern worldwide that impact millions of people each year. The resources I have highlighted here have given me important information on the symptoms, causes and effects of strokes with strategies to prevent and recover from them. By learning about strokes it empowers you and your loved ones to prevent them, recognize them and manage them.
You can access the Patient Education Repository by registering for Stroke Connector here
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