SUNDAY STAR, 29 OCTOBER 2017
STROKE AWARENESS
BRAIN aneurysms, most simply
described as bulges in parts of
blood vessels in the brain, are one
of the leading causes of
haemorrhagic stroke.
An aneurysm occurs when the
walls of a blood vessel are
weakened and as blood pushes up
against them in vulnerable places
such as at the junction of arterial
branches, the walls start ballooning
outward.
Like all balloons, when an
aneurysm is small and its walls
remain relatively thick, it is
considered safe. The larger it
grows, the thinner its walls get and
that is when its risk of rupturing
increases drastically. When it
ruptures, a haemorrhagic stroke
occurs.
Haemorrhagic strokes occur less
commonly in stroke cases but
while the risk for ischaemic stroke
increases with age, the risk for
haemorrhagic stroke is present in
people of all ages including
foetuses.
Not all brain aneurysms result in
stroke but one should worry when
the aneurysm grows to a
significant size and when its walls
are too thin, which are both
measurable using medical imaging
facilities.
A brain aneurysm by itself,
however, does not present
symptoms.
When an aneurysm ruptures,
patients complain of what they call
the worst headache of their lives.
Some may come in unconscious,
depending on the extent of brain
damage that usually occurs with
ruptured aneurysms, says Dr
Ramesh Narenthiranathan,
consultant neurosurgeon at Ara
Damansara Medical Centre.
There is no consensus among
neurosurgeons as to what size
aneurysm should or should not be
treated but there are studies that
show aneurysms less than 7mm
that have an annual rupture rate of
under 0.8%.
The acronym used to detect
whether someone is having a
stroke FAST has a minor flaw.
What is not in FAST is the
headache. A sudden, severe
headache is indicative of
haemorrhagic stroke, says Dr
Ramesh.
Everyone has headaches, so not
many realise that they should seek
help beyond a certain level of pain.
According to Dr Ramesh, a
ruptured aneurysm can also cause
neck pain in addition to a
persistently severe headache. If a
person is experiencing these
symptoms, he or she should go to a
hospital and have a CT scan of the
brain done.
After a stroke
When a brain aneurysm
ruptures, the patient should ideally
be rushed to the hospital as soon as
possible. Dr Ramesh insists that
there is no safe window between
the rupture of a brain aneurysm
and emergency medical attention.
Brain aneurysm fatalities in
past statistics made up about 40%
of total cases and 15% die before
reaching the hospital. That is how
severe the problem is, says Dr
Ramesh.
He goes on to say that the reason
brain aneurysms are treated as
emergencies is because there are
re-rupture risks. The likelihood of a
recurring rupture after two weeks
Recognising warning signs
Neuroplasticity is an important recovery factor in stroke patients, which is evident in one of Dr Ramesh's patients (pic) who has made amazing progress
following her stroke four months ago.
is about 40%, so aneurysms are
treated as early as possible.
Our main motive of rushing
treatment is to secure the
aneurysm. Once it is secured, we
can then move on to rehabilitation
of the brain, he explains.
If patients are conscious with a
focal deficit when receiving
treatment right after having a
stroke, they can be moved to
rehabilitation soon after. However,
if patients are unconscious upon
arrival, they will be monitored
while their brain is allowed to
recover. In the process of waiting
for the brain to recover,
rehabilitation begins.
Even if a patient is unconscious
in the intensive care unit (ICU),
rehabilitation is already taking
place. As long as patients are
medically stable, rehabilitation can
begin, says Dr Ramesh.
Rehabilitation on unconscious
patients involves manual
manipulation of their bodies. They
may be made to sit on a reclining
chair meant for this purpose to
stimulate their neck and trunk
control.
According to Dr Ramesh, the
idea of this type of rehabilitation is
to stimulate the brain into
functioning because the longer
they remain prone in bed, the
longer their situation persists.
He also explains the importance
of having family members
participate in a patients
rehabilitation even if the patient is
unconscious. In the ICU, it is the
little things that can stimulate the
patient that count.
To the patient, medical
personnel at the hospital are all
strangers but family members
voices are familiar. In the ICU,
anything that may trigger memory
in the patient such as music they
liked to listen to or movies they
have watched before are played.
It is the memory that starts
stimulating everything else into
recovery.
Recovery is always subjective
and depends heavily on factors
such as the severity of the stroke
and age of the patient.
According to Dr Ramesh, there
Dr Ramesh Narenthiranathan.
are patients who walk into the
emergency room with a grade 1
brain haemorrhage and are
completely fine in seven to 10 days
compared to the ones who come in
unconscious with a high-grade
brain haemorrhage and need to be
moved into rehabilitation before
they are allowed to return home.
It is not about recovery from
the aneurysm rupture itself but
about recovery from the stroke
caused by the aneurysm rupture,
says Dr Ramesh.
Different ways
to treat stroke
In terms of haemorrhagic stroke
where there is bleeding in the
brain, several risk factors are
involved such as hypertension,
cigarette smoking, increasing age
and cocaine abuse.
Blood pressure variation where
blood pressure is typically highest
before going to sleep at night and
lowest when waking up in the
morning can also result in
development of aneurysms.
Other than that, small
aneurysms that are considered
low-risk can develop in people of
any age, including foetuses.
Intracranial aneurysms are also
known as berry aneurysms.
Two types of haemorrhagic
stroke may occur as follows:
l Intracerebral haemorrhagic
Not all brain
aneurysms
result in stroke
but one should
worry when the
aneurysm grows
to a significant
size and when its
walls are too thin,
which are both
measurable using
medical imaging
facilities.
stroke A significant blood clot
pressing on the brain causes
pressure in the brain to increase
and results in an oxygen deficit,
ultimately causing cellular
dysfunction that lead to a stroke.
l Subarachnoid haemorrhagic
stroke A diffused bleed within
the brain affects oxygen translation
through the cells, also increasing
pressure in the brain and causing a
stroke.
Currently, there are two ways to
treat a brain aneurysm
microsurgery and endovascular
coiling.
Microsurgery involves accessing
the aneurysm from outside the
blood vessel through open surgery
and clipping it off, while
endovascular coiling (embolisation)
involves feeding a coil through the
blood vessel into the aneurysm,
which will cause the blood in the
aneurysm to clot, excluding it from
intracranial circulation.
Deciding which option to employ
depends on location of the
aneurysm, size of the aneurysm,
morphology of the aneurysm,
proximity of important branches,
age and medical background of the
patient.
According to Dr Ramesh, families
of patients tend to opt for the more
minimally invasive option, which
is embolisation but both options
carry similar dangers and risks of
mortality.
Dr Ramesh explains that,
statistically, studies have shown
that a grade 5 haemorrhage carries
a 40% risk of mortality and
morbidity but with modern
advances in medicine, these
statistics are fast becoming less
relevant.
He observes that there is a false
sense of security for patients and
family alike that minimally
invasive treatment carries lower
morbidity. With advances in
microsurgery of the brain, results
of aneurysm surgery have
improved by leaps and bounds.
Four months ago, he treated a
patient with a grade 5 brain
haemorrhage, the most severe
score to grade bleeding in the
brain, who has since recovered
enough brain function to be mobile
with assistance.
The patient, who prefers not to
be named, is currently undergoing
stroke rehabilitation in Ara
Damansara Medical Centre.
She is not the first case and will
not be the last, says Dr Ramesh, as
he has seen many patients who
come in with a poor grade brain
haemorrhage and ultimately go
home walking.
Rehabilitation is about retraining
the brain and promoting
neuroplasticity.
In the past, doctors predict loss
of function from areas of the brain
damaged such as expecting left-
sided paralysis from right-brain
damage. Today, with early
rehabilitation and neuroplasticity,
this loss of function can be
regained.
Dr Ramesh maintains that
managing an aneurysm stroke is
not all about a successful surgical
procedure. In tandem with
intensive rehabilitation, the success
is defined by functional patient
outcomes and giving patients their
independence back.
n For more information,
call 03-5639 1212.
2 Stroke Awareness
Reducing risks, improving chances
A STROKE occurs when the blood
supply to a part of the brain is
interrupted. This interruption
deprives the brain cells of blood
and consequently oxygen, leading
to affected brain cells dying due to
deoxygenation.
Stroke can be caused by either a
blocked blood vessel (ischaemic
stroke) or a burst blood vessel in
the brain (haemorrhagic stroke).
Out of the two, ischaemic stroke
happens more often, with odds of
about four in every five patients.
A life-threatening medical
condition, a stroke requires urgent
medical attention. Every year, 15
million people worldwide suffer
from stroke. Of this number, five
million cases are fatal while
another five million survive the
stroke with permanent disability.
Stroke has been in the top five
leading causes of death in Malaysia
since the 2000s, says Dr Ashraf
Sharifuddin, consultant
neurosurgeon at Regency Specialist
Hospital. He will be joining
Regency Specialist Hospital on
Nov 1.
According to Dr Ashraf, factors
that increase the risk of having a
stroke can be divided into three
groups as follows.
l Risk factors that cannot be
controlled
- Gender: Men are more likely to
be affected by stroke than women
- Age: Risk of stroke, especially
ischaemic stroke, increases as one
gets older
- Medical background: A family
history of stroke can increase ones
chances of getting a stroke
The occurence of stroke may be unpredictable, but several risk factors can be
controlled to reduce the likelihood of stroke affecting you.
l Medical diseases that
increase ones risk of stroke
- Atrial fibrillation or irregular
heartbeat, also known as AFib
- Transient ischaemic attack,
which is a temporary blockage of
blood supply to the brain and is
often undetected in tests
- Diabetes
l Lifestyle factors that can be
controlled to reduce risk of
stroke
- High blood pressure or
hypertension: Weakens blood
vessels and increases likelihood of
them rupturing, leaking or
narrowing, which can cause stroke.
Hypertension can be controlled by
making changes such as
consuming a low-sodium diet and
exercising
- High cholesterol: Contributes to
a number of blood vessel
conditions that lead to stroke
- Smoking: Be it active smoking
or passive smoking, it is a major
risk factor for stroke
- Obesity: Leads to hypertension,
high cholesterol, diabetes and
cardiovascular diseases
- Alcohol consumption: Heavy
Dr Ashraf Sharifuddin.
drinking, which is classified as
consumption of more than three
units per day, can increase the risk
of stroke
Post stroke (in the case of
controllable risk factors), as the
disease causing the stroke comes
under control, the brain will slowly
change and adapt to the loss of that
part of the brain.
This adaptation neural
plasticity is what allows a stroke
patient to regain functions such as
arm movements after a stroke.
However, this process is slow and
rarely predictable.
Comprehensive stroke
rehabilitation helps in recovery,
but the degree to which a patient
can recover is still unmeasurable.
Some patients may take a few
months to regain full independence
while many others may still be
dependent on assistance from
SUNDAY STAR, 29 OCTOBER 2017
Every year, 15
million people
worldwide suffer
from stroke. Of this
number, five million
cases are fatal while
another five million
survive the stroke
with permanent
disability.
caregivers after years.
Rehabilitation certainly helps
stroke patients as they would be
subject to frequent assessment and
directed therapy specific to the
affected part of the brain.
Repetitive activities and training
also help in recovery, as do
interactions with loved ones, says
Dr Ashraf.
Stroke is a major worldwide
disease, affecting those who are
still in the productive age group.
The best treatment of stroke has
always been via prevention.
Lifestyle modification is of utmost
importance, especially now that
the Malaysian obesity rate has
increased to 45.3%.
n For more information, call
07-381 7700 (ext 1186), e-mail
info@regencyspecialist.com or visit
www.regencyspecialist.com.
SUNDAY STAR, 29 OCTOBER 2017
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For an
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EXERCISE is one of the best ways
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a vital role in reducing your risk
of stroke and can improve your
overall health.
Regular exercise can help
lower blood pressure and
maintain a healthy weight.
Research shows that regular
exercise three to four times a
week can reduce your risk of
stroke by 27%.
Total body workout
If you are looking for a piece
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Achieve your
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Other features of the
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Get the training you want with
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Choose from 10 calories and
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Simple controls change the
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l 20 digital one-touch
resistance control Quick,
responsive, one-touch controls
Stroke Awareness 3
Look sharp, act fast
THE FAST acronym was created in keep both raised.
1998 to enable bystanders of stroke
victims to correctly identify l Speech A person who has
incidences of stroke and get the stroke will most probably have
victim the emergency medical aid difficulty speaking. Ask the person to
they need. say a simple sentence such as
In all stroke cases, response time Malaysia truly Asia and observe for
is the most important thing to be jumbled words or slurred speech.
considered as even a one-minute
delay in getting a stroke victim l Time Call emergency
to a hospital could prove to be services as soon as possible
fatal. and make sure the
l Face Facial numbness or person affected is
weakness, especially on one side. sitting or laid
The easiest way to detect a stroke is down to
to ask the person to smile. prevent
Check if the smile droops to one falling.
side, along with the corresponding
cheek and eyelid. Other
Sometimes, it can be difficult to symptoms
detect facial differences in the smile of a stroke,
of a stranger. FAST operates on the which
belief that in most cases, the are not included
bystander will be someone who in FAST, are a severe
knows the patient and is able to headache, dizziness, loss of
detect an unusual smile. balance, loss of vision or double
vision, and unexplained falls or
l Arms Arm numbness or difficulty in controlling limb
weakness, especially on one side. movements.
Ask the person to raise both arms Employing the FAST test could
and check if they are unable to raise potentially save thousands of
one or both. stroke sufferers from mortality
If they succeed in raising both and morbidity by allowing
arms, ensure that they are able to faster treatment.
adjust your incline and
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l Upper-body workout arms
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The NordicTrack E 7.0 Z
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In conjunction with World
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check to raise awareness for
heart disease and stroke
prevention.
Fitness Concept will donate
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4 Stroke Awareness SUNDAY STAR, 29 OCTOBER 2017

Boost your energy

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DO you feel like you are always tired and
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Our body needs essential vitamins and

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The best way to avoid nutrient deficiencies
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nutrient-rich diet from fresh, whole foods
that include plenty of fruits, vegetables,
protein and whole grains.
While diet is the key to getting the best
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KKLIU No.2422/2017
SUNDAY STAR, 29 OCTOBER 2017 Stroke Awareness 5

For a healthy heart

WE cannot generalise all fatty acids
as bad for our health. Many
individuals believe that to lose
weight, they need to eliminate fats
from their diet.
Unfortunately, this can be very
harmful to the body because fats
serve as an energy source, a
natural body and vital organs
insulator, cell membrane
constituents and a precursor of
steroid hormones in the body.
Omega-3 fatty acids are
considered essential fatty acids
and we should not eliminate them
from our diet. As they cannot be
manufactured in our body, they
must be obtained from diet or
supplementation.
There are three types of omega-3
fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
EPA and DHA are primarily
found in oily fish such as anchovy,
salmon and mackerel. Meanwhile,
ALA is found in nuts, seeds and
grains.
Today, the popularity of this
cardio-protection nutrient is rising
due to its potential in reducing the
risk of cardiovascular diseases
(CVD) such as stroke, coronary
heart disease and atherosclerosis.
These diseases are caused by the
blockage of arteries due to plaque
formation.
The plaque is made up of fats,
cholesterol, platelets, cellular
debris and calcium.
Over time, the plaque hardens
and narrows the arteries, thus
limiting the flow of nutrients and
oxygen throughout the body.
The effects of omega-3 fatty
acids on heart health have been
demonstrated and well established
in many studies.
The unique properties of these
fatty acids became apparent in the
investigations of the health status
of Greenland Eskimos, who
consume plenty of fish, seals and
whales yet have a low rate of
coronary heart disease.
A study from Japan, a country
whose people generally have a diet
low in saturated fat (meat) and
high in omega-3 polyunsaturated
fat, showed that Japanese have a
low prevalence of high cholesterol
and risk of coronary heart disease.
To sum up, the consumption of
omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the
risk of CVD.
Based on American Heart
Associations dietary guidelines, it
is recommended to include at least
two servings of particularly oily
fish every week in ones diet as it
can help reduce the risk of stroke
by as much as 50%. substances released during an Meanwhile, for vegans and
Following are the properties of inflammatory response vegetarians, they can opt for
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Taking care of
elderly parents
ARE you worried whether your
helper at home is taking good
care of your aged parents or
loved ones?
If your aged parent suffers
from stroke or is not fit to be
home alone due to medication
needs or physical limitations
after a surgery, KPJ Senior Living
Care is a good choice for
rehabilitative therapy, assisted
living and post-operative care.
It is located strategically at KPJ
Tawakkal Health Centre, Jalan
Pahang, Kuala Lumpur.
The nursing home is also
supported by other established
services such as KPJ KL
Rehabilitation Centre, KPJ KL
Dental Specialist Centre,
Consultants Clinics,
Haemodialysis Service,
Diagnostic Imaging Service
(X-ray and OPG/dental X-ray) and
Eye Centre.
KPJ Tawakkal Specialist
Hospital is only a two-minute
walking distance from KPJ
Tawakkal Health Centre for any
emergency cases.
KPJ Senior Living Care offers
the wide range of care from low
to high care, from independent
living to residential aged care
The facility providing 24-hour
residential care is affordable and
all cultural and religious
differences are respected.
Other than serving a long-term
resident or a short-term
rehabilitation resident, an adult
daycare programme is also
provided for socialisation and to
give caregivers a needed break.
However, a consultant will
need to assess what level of care
is required and then develop a
personalised care plan that
meets your specific needs.
The team comprises
consultants, nurses and
therapists working together to
provide the highest quality care
to meet the individual needs.
Rehabilitation physicians and
therapists will work closely to
develop a rehabilitative care
programme within the wide
spectrum from physical and
occupational therapy to speech
therapy to serve the residents
specific needs.
Basically, the care service
consists of rooms, nursing care,
weekly doctor visits and meals.
There are also facilities such as a
living hall, dining area, mini
gymnasium, mini library,
recreational room and, more
importantly, a social area such as
a karaoke room and rooftop
garden for large family
gatherings.
The cheerful team and
comfortable environment make
the overall facility feels like
home for the residents and
guests. KPJ Senior Living Care
(Nursing Home) understands the
challenges and stress families
face when dealing with
frustrating situations relating to
elderly care.
Thus, it aims to provide
professional and compassionate
care as well as encourage an
active and healthy lifestyle for
the elderly, giving the family
members peace of mind that
their loved one are in safe
hands.
n For more information,
call 03-4023 3599 or visit
www.kpjhealthcentre.com.
KKLIU No.2432/2017
6 Stroke Awareness
THIS years World Stroke Day
focuses on stroke prevention,
raising awareness of stroke risks
and demonstrating the steps we
can all take to prevent stroke.
Stroke can happen any time to
anyone.
The World Stroke Day campaign
aims to encourage people to
understand stroke risk factors such
as high blood pressure, diabetes
and high blood cholesterol. The
campaign also promotes healthy
living.
Stroke is preventable
Knowing the signs of a stroke
is the first step in stroke
prevention. A stroke, sometimes
called a brain attack, occurs when
the blood flow to an area in the
brain is cut off.
The brain cells, deprived of
oxygen and glucose that are
needed to survive, die. If a stroke
is not detected early, it can result
in permanent brain damage or
death.
Many risk factors can be
controlled before they cause
problems.
Reducing the risk of stroke
Controllable risk factors
l High blood pressure
l Uncontrolled diabetes
l High cholesterol
l Smoking
l Excessive alcohol intake
l Obesity
Implementing
a healthier diet
A balanced eating plan that is
high in carbohydrates from grains,
fruits and vegetables and low in
saturated fat is key in taking good
care of your health.
A wholesome diet can help you
maintain a healthy weight and
lower blood pressure as well as
cholesterol. This includes drinking
at least two glasses of Marigold HL
Low Fat Milk with Plant Sterols
every day.
Plant sterols are natural
substances that help lower the
levels of bad cholesterol.
Found in many grains,
vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts
and seeds, studies have shown that
a daily intake of plant sterols (0.8g
to 3g) lowers bad cholesterol by
10% to 20% without affecting good
cholesterol.
For healthy living
By drinking at least two
glasses of Marigold HL Low Fat
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and DHA are important for
proper health maintenance and
immune function. EPA and DHA
may affect many aspects of body
function.
Opceden Omega-3 Fish Oil TG
500/200 is in the triglyceride (TG)
form.
Most fish oil supplements in
the market are available in ethyl
SUNDAY STAR, 29 OCTOBER 2017
Milk with Plant Sterols daily,
you are provided with 1.6g of
plant sterol esters without
needing to worry about your fat
intake.
Each glass is not only fortified
with nine essential vitamins,
which are vitamin A, B1, B3, B6,
B12, C, D, E and folic acid, but it is
also low in fat and lactose.
Its high calcium and protein
content aids in bone and
muscle development.
Available in four flavours,
which are plain, chocolate,
strawberry and plant sterols,
Marigold HL Low Fat Milk is
known for its balance of
highs and lows thus making
it the perfect milk drink for a
healthy heart and a heartier way
of living.
n For more information, call
1800 885 587 or visit
www.marigold.com.my.
Opceden
Omega-3 Fish
Oil TG 500/200
provides
omega-3
essential fatty
acids in the
triglyceride
form.
ester form or TG form.
Structurally, the major difference
between the two forms is that in
ethyl ester, the fatty acids (EPA
and DHA) are esterified to an
ethanol backbone while in the
TG form, the fatty acids are
esterified to a glycerol alcohol
backbone.
Typically, fats in most food
sources are found in their
natural TG form. TGs are
generally associated with
standard fish body or fish liver
oil.
These fats comprise three fatty
acids (such as omega-3 EPA and
DHA) linked to a molecule of
glycerol.
Without glycerol, free fatty
acids can oxidise rapidly.
Therefore, the glycerol backbone
helps to naturally stabilise the fat
molecules and prevent
breakdown and oxidation.
To digest fatty acid in our diet,
we need pancreatic lipase
(enzyme).
Studies have found that the
lipase to hydrolyse the TG form
is 10 to 50 times faster and
ensures that absorption into the
body is optimised.
n For more information, call
Asia Healthcare at 03-6156 2836.
This is a supplement product
advertisement.
KKLIU No.1818/2016
SUNDAY STAR, 29 OCTOBER 2017 7
8 Stroke Awareness
STROKE is a condition, not a
definition of who you are.
After suffering from a stroke, a
patient is commonly presented
with confusion, concern,
resentment and a host of questions
regarding what they should do
next.
Therefore, it is important for the
patient and family members to
understand the challenges they
might face after surviving a stroke.
Rehabilitation is often a long,
arduous journey for both the
patient and his or her loved ones.
However, the goal of stroke
rehabilitation is to provide support
for stroke survivors and their
family, friends as well as caregivers
to facilitate recovery in the
aftermath of a stroke.
Stroke rehabilitation encourages
a patient to relearn skills, regain
independence and optimise quality
of life.
This involves a multidisciplinary
team comprising physicians,
physiotherapists, nurses,
occupational therapists, speech-
language therapists and mental
health professionals.
The therapy begins immediately
after a survivors overall condition
has been stabilised. Stroke
survivors often encounter
difficulties in performing daily
activities such as bathing, eating
and walking.
Nursing care is essential for their
general health while therapy will
benefit in recovering mobility and
independence.
For patients with speech
impediment (aphasia), speech
therapy focuses on improving the
patients ability to communicate as
well as the necessary act of eating
(aphagia).
As these conditions impact the
patients well-being greatly, speech
Life after stroke
Stroke is treatable and with prompt treatment, survivors would be able to recover and lead a full life.
therapy is often referred for
patients even during the early
stage.
An occupational therapist helps
patients improve, adapt and
compensate any disadvantages that
they may face in their activities of
daily living. If a patient displays
any cognitive dysfunction, the
occupational therapist is usually
also the one to approach for
advice.
Physiotherapy benefits patients
with motor and sensory
disabilities. Each patient will be
assessed based on his strength,
endurance, gait abnormalities and
sensory deficits.
An individualised rehabilitation
programme aimed at regaining
control of motor functions will
then be designed to initiate and
motivate the patient to regain the
use of stroke-impaired limbs.
Gait training is an essential part
of rehabilitation, an approach
designed to improve stepping and
ambulatory movements.
The Lokomat robotic system
produces smooth, repetitive
movements of each step to provide
a sensory stimulation needed by a
recovering patient while delivering
biofeedback concerning the
patients progress.
By controlling the smooth,
repetitive walking pattern, the
brain and the spinal cord work
together to reroute signals that
were interrupted by injury or
illness.
In addition to training the brain
and spinal cord, this robot-assisted
walking therapy also helps
strengthen muscles, improve
circulation and strengthen bones at
risk of osteoporosis due to lack of
use.
The customised support and
limb guidance provided by the
Lokomat allow patients who have
a wide variety of walking
impairments to use this device
both in inpatient and outpatient
settings.
A holistic approach to
rehabilitation involves not just
SUNDAY STAR, 29 OCTOBER 2017
Stroke
rehabilitation
encourages a patient
to relearn skills,
regain independence
and optimise quality
of life.
medical practitioners but also the
patients support system.
When a person gets a stroke, the
ordeal is not faced by that person
alone as it affects the family,
friends and even co-workers. Be it
physical, emotional or financial,
support from loved ones is
essential for the healing to take
place.
To promote this, the
rehabilitation team usually
encourages activities with family
members, friends and caretakers.
On Oct 21, in conjunction with
World Stroke Day, iRehab
celebrated family day at iHome.
Family and friends were invited
to have a day of fun and games
with their loved ones.
Stroke is treatable and with
prompt treatment, survivors
should not be hindered from fully
living their life after stroke.
n For more information, call
03-5631 5698/012-906 1690 or
e-mail enquiry@irehab.com.my.