Still supporting those with Heart Disease

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