Latest issue of AIHW Access available

Latest issue of AIHW Access available

Adolescents Dental Care Falls Injury Stroke

Access is a newsletter published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, profiling the Institute's work and its people. The December 2013 issue is now available and topics include:

• Australia's Welfare 2013 - Aussies living and working longer, but some are doing it tough
• Accidents and lifestyle choices-the biggest health challenges facing Australia's males
• Stroke death rates drop 70% but thousands still affected
• Program screens over 3.6 million women for cervical cancer
• Dental care hitting Aussies' hip pockets
• Youngest offenders at high risk of returning to youth justice system
• Australian prisoners face many health challenges-but it's not all bad news
• Falls and transport accidents main causes of hospitalised injury
• Profiling homelessness services in Australia
• New information available on seclusion in mental health facilities

Significant gaps in stroke care - report

Significant gaps in stroke care - report

Stroke

The increasing number of people surviving strokes is leading to a crisis in service provision as the health and community support systems struggle to keep pace with demand. A new report, The needs of stroke survivors in Australia was released recently by the National Stroke Foundation.  It shows Australians are struggling every day due to a lack of access to essential support – a situation that is set to worsen as the number of stroke survivors grows. The report shows services are fragmented and access is dependent on where survivors live.   

More on the prevention and incidence of stroke

More on the prevention and incidence of stroke

Stroke

Protecting your brain and prevention and treatment of stroke is the title of a recent ABC Radio National Health Report.  A US study has shown clearly how every minute counts when treating ischemic stroke.  Jeffrey Saver from the University of California led the study of over 58,000 patients and was interviewed about his findings. "We demonstrated for the first time that haemorrhage is increased the longer you delay the start of the therapy. And we also confirmed definitively that death from stroke is reduced if you start the therapy sooner."  

In the same Health Report, Ann Hunt from the AIHW was interviewed.  Recently the AIHW released its report, Stroke and its management in Australia: an update.  Hunt relayed the good news that the stroke event rate in Australia fell by 25% between 1997 and 2009, but that the estimated number of strokes increased by 6%. The increase in numbers was attributed to the ageing population. 

Saver JL, Fonarow GC, Smith EE, et al. Time to treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator and outcome from acute ischemic stroke. JAMA. 2013;309:2480-2488. Abstract

There’s something you can do to reduce your risk of stroke

There’s something you can do to reduce your risk of stroke

Stroke

Reposted from "The Conversation". Michelle McDonald, a Lecturer in rehabilitation at University of South Australia has written; "Many people who have had a stroke believe that their family history is the main reason for it, regardless of how well they look after themselves. While a family history of cardiovascular disease does increase your risk of stroke or heart attack, it doesn’t make it your destiny.

Exercising to the point of breaking a sweat plays a key role in stroke prevention, and can help change your family’s medical history. Read the rest of her interesting comments on a study recently released in the journal Stroke at "The Conversation" website.