Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke
Mini Stroke, Massive Warning – How you can others. NI help Chestyourself Heart &and Stroke still supporting
chest, heart and stroke survivors
Consultant Stroke Physician, Dr Brian Gallen, sits on Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke’s Board of Governors and believes many of the patients he works with had aAt TIA before their fullIreland stroke, Northern often without realising.
Stroke and Carers Support Groups: providing the chance to take part in activities to build confidence and increase independence with people in we similar situations.
Chest, Heart and Stroke are still here for the over 330,000 local people PREP & Taking Control Programmes: helping to rebuild “I regularly seewith patientschest who have living heart and stroke conditions, who lives and confidence. had a Transient Ischaemic Attack are more vulnerable (TIA) or mini-stroke, before their full to COVID- 19.
Prevention: individual health stroke. Some have been diagnosed advice and public health awareness but often when I am assessing Aisleen Hamill,campaigns. e recognise the current situation and treating them, they willthat tell me NICHS Care about other recent symptoms, is having a huge impact on the lives of Coordinator onResearch: a funding ground– which in retrospect I believe were those living with these conditions, including support call tobreaking one local research which signs of a TIA. the thousands who depend on our services, changes lives. of the thousands “Every dayare I see the having devastation who now to self-isolate and protect of people with How your donations support our that stroke causes.against I see patients chest, heart and themselves the virus. Protecting the work. who have a life of disability ahead stroke conditions Dr Brian Gallen, Consultant health of ourand service users top priority £10 – Will provide 25 crucial ‘Life of them, partners families whois our who are living Stroke Physician. After Stroke’ information booklets, become overnight, andso ofin the current crisis. and carers it continues to be ‘shielded’ lives.to help stroke survivors rebuild course the grief of those whose In light of this, and in line with the government their lives. loved ones did not survive. that if someone gets treatment calls their and plan to continue this service for the guidance that has prevented usfor from running a TIA, through a TIA clinic, £17crisis – Pays visit core from aofStroke “There many ways prevent a risk a fullbegun stroke is reduced. A TIA duration of the – for it isa the what our ourare usual face totoface services, weof have Family Support Co-ordinator in the stroke happening in the first place is a warning sign that cannot be charity is about. operating a telephone support service, providing aftermath of a stroke. and a good place to start is by ignored.” Our staff are currently working tirelessly from essential advice and emotional recognising theguidance, body’s own warning £25 – Paysour for one person to mechanism, There’s a NICHS has recently launched an their homes to ensure services continue supportthe to TIA. local people. attend a PREP scheme for a week. leaflet enclosed with this pack awareness campaign to highlight and it is important that people know we are still that the people normally whichWe listsknow the warning signs to lookwho what you need to know about mini here for and– that we care. attend our services are very worried atFor this Will enable up to 5 people out for. strokes. more information onthem,£50 to attend Stroke ‘Mini We encourage peopleNICHS’s to readweekly the COVID-19 time and have reorganised our the staff to Stroke, ensureMassive Warning’ Activity Groups. “A TIA has the same symptoms and campaign visit www.nichs.org.uk/ information for people living with chest, heart that receive support causes asour a fullservice stroke. users But during a ongoing ministroke and stroke conditions that available ona £100 – Will payisfor 4 hours of TIA the body breaks downcalls the clot with regular phone that answer basic researcher’s time, to carry before lasting damage haslink been our website atclinical www.nichs.org.uk/COVID19. health queries and people to other local out research into the diagnosis done to the brain. Our clients can continue toofcontact theirand services and support during this coronavirus and treatment chest, heart stroke illnesses. “Butoutbreak. when you are experiencing local NICHS Care Co-ordinator or phone our Although it is vital that the vulnerable the symptoms, you don’t know if 1 in 10 people who a mini switchboard on 028 9032 adopt ‘shielded’ lives to protect themselves by have they will go away or not, so you need stroke will suffer a full stroke 0184 for advice and ongoing isolating to apeople to call 999. at home, it must not lead within week. support during these feeling left alone. We are committed to “The statistics say it all – 1 in 10 How NICHSand can help: challenging times. providing ongoing support to our clients people who have a TIA go on to Stroke Family Support: helping Nobody should feel alone community. To days havethe a fullwider strokechest, within heart a week.and stroke families in the difficult However recent hasover shown stroke. right now. dateawe havestudy made 8,000following supportaphone
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