Stepping off a flight from a regular work trip to Canberra, Tony Rolfe dismissed the numbness in his leg. He blamed it on sitting oin a plane for too long and even the glass of wine he had in the airport lounge.
“It was just getting worse and worse. I tried to ring my wife and tell her I wasn’t well, but I couldn’t speak,” Rolfe says. “My daughter was collecting me and collapsed into her arms.”
Less than an hour after landing, Rolfe was told a clot had caused an ischemic attack. He was told it was a temporary, stroke-like attack but he would fully recover the following day.
“In the middle of the night I got up but immediately fell to the floor, it was a full-blown stroke with complete left side paralysis,” says the 66-year-old.
Rolfe says the days that followed was the lowest point in his life: “Lying on the bathroom floor unable to get yourself up and having nursing staff clean you up and shower you - I think I cried for three hours.”
“I thought this was how I was going to be for the rest of my life.”
Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers and is a leading cause of disability. While there are some risk factors which can’t be changed like age and family history, more than 80 per cent of strokes can be prevented. This can be done by managing these certain factors and living a healthy lifestyle.
Prevention is key
This National Stroke week, the Stroke Foundation is urging Australians to take control of their health.
Dr Caleb Ferguson, a senior research fellow at Western Sydney University, suggests Australians can start by paying greater attention to their salt intake.
He says common cause of stroke is high blood pressure over a sustained period of time.
“It’s often overlooked but salt contributes to high blood pressure and the average Australian consumes more than double the recommended daily intake of salt,” said Dr Ferguson.
“A lot of that intake is attributed to hidden salt in packaged foods or bread with high salt content.”
Apart from a healthy diet, individuals are advised to regularly exercise and drink in moderation to keep blood pressure at a safe level. As for smokers, their risk of stroke is twice as high as non-smokers, but immediate benefits have been seen after quitting.
“Another part of the campaign is to know your numbers,” Dr Ferguson says.
“Normal blood pressure is 120 over 80, so anything over 140 [for the top number] is classed as high blood pressure. You can usually get your blood pressure checked at your local pharmacy.”
Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and atrial fibrillation are also stroke risks that can be managed with the help of a GP. Regular check-ups are advised so as to diagnose and start management as soon as possible.
A new lease on life
Before his stroke, Rolfe says the only exercise he did was walking around airports and to meetings. As for his diet, it was whatever he could find on a plane or on the go.
“Eating was a challenge on the road but after the stroke, diet became my focus. I’m making sure I’m getting the right nutrition so that I build my energy and not sap it.”
In the days that followed his stroke he adopted a very stringent exercise routine to regain strength in his arm and leg. In ten days he was on crutches and after four months he managed to walk on his own again.
Today, Rolfe has changed his attitude towards exercise and now exercises daily to keep fit and strong.
