Hello,
Thank you for your question on EnableMe, I am sorry to hear of your partner’s stroke. Even with mild symptoms, it must have been worrying for your both. I am pleased to hear the recovery is going well.
Whilst risk of recurrent stroke and mortality rate is higher for someone who has had a stroke, there are a number of factors that influence this. Things like the type of stroke, age, medical history, family history, compliance taking medication, risk factor and lifestyle management.
Does your partner know the cause of their stroke or if they have any known stroke risk factors? Around 80% of strokes are thought to be preventable so knowing your specific risk factors can help prevent a further stroke. There are risk factors that can be modified or changed, to reduce the likelihood of having another stroke. These include high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight or obese, poor diet, being inactive, drinking excessive alcohol and having atrial fibrillation. There are lifestyle and medication modifications that can also help manage these risk factors. It would be helpful to discuss stroke cause and risk factors with your partner’s GP or neurologist if they haven’t already.
Some research studies and statistics on stroke mortality rates can be very confronting and not always helpful. Other studies we’re aware of report that mortality after stroke in adults aged 18 to 50 years is a lot less than those statistics you’ve come across. One study suggested one year mortality post stroke was as low as 2.4% for this age bracket. It is also good to note that there have been many medical advancements that have led to decreased mortality rate from stroke in recent years, and that statistics on the internet may not be up to date or only refer to one study, a particular stroke type or cover a broad age range. Often statistics on mortality post stroke include those who are older and generally have higher mortality rates. It might be helpful to speak to your partner’s GP or neurologist about mortality rates taking into consideration your partner’s specific type of stroke, risk factors and medical history to ensure any statistics are relevant and accurate to their situation.
Here are a few resources that may be helpful:
We hope this helps. Please don’t hesitate to call StrokeLine 1800 787 653 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm AEST) to speak with one of our health professionals. We can provide further guidance and advice regarding your partner’s specific situation, discuss risk factors and talk through any concerns about ongoing health issues.
Warm regards,
Siobhan and Kath (StrokeLine)
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