Strokes occur most commonly in older people, but recently there has been an increase in younger Pacific people in New Zealand having strokes.
41-year-old from the Cook Islands, Jane Foster Photo: Supplied
In the last five years, the rate for strokes has gone up 40 percent in the age group of 45 to 64 with the highest rate of hospitalisation for stroke in South Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.
Jane Foster, 41,originally from the Cook Islands, was working for an electricity company in Auckland until in 2019 her life turned upside down.
Mrs Foster was hospitalised in February, had a major heart surgery in March, a stroke in August and diagnosed with endometrial cancer in December. Moreover, she was also made redundant.
Mrs Foster said she remembered the day she had her stroke clearly. It was 2 August, 2019.
"It was just a normal day where I had family over my house having a good time eating, laughing, talking and then I offered to do the dishes and then my right hand, I lost all movement on my hand."
"I didn't think anything of it, so I went and sat down and after half an hour later, my husband was on his way to work, so he came to me to say good-bye and then he noticed something was wrong with me."
"I lost all movement on my body, I couldn't talk. I didn't know what was happening."
"My husband immediately called 111. We were both scared. I didn't even realise that I was having a stroke."
Stroke physician at Middlemore Hospital Dr Geoff Green said he is seeing an increase of younger patients like Jane Foster.
"Elsewhere in the developed world, stroke rates going down, but in South Auckland our rates are going up in Pacific people."
Stroke Physician at Middlemore Hospital, Dr Geoff Green Photo: Supplied
"We're not sure exactly what the reason is for the increase, but it is probably mostly due to risk factors with stroke. That includes high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and it might be that people of that middle age group have got more risk factors."
"It could also be that people have less access to healthcare, that is something you have to consider with our Pacific community."
"You have to also look at the increase in salt in one's diet, which can cause high blood pressure, which then leads to a stroke."
Māori and Pacific populations are developing atrial fibrillation ten years younger than other ethnicities on average.
"There's also a common heart rhythm condition characterised by an erratic heart beat called atrial fibrillation and people with this condition are more likely to get clots travelling from the heart to the brain causing a stroke and that might be a factor for our Pacific people," said Dr Green.
There are a few things the Pacific community could start doing to help reduce the risk of strokes among their people.
"Have your blood pressure checked at least once a year, even if it's under control, by your family doctor or nurse. Stop smoking and make sure your diabetes is well treated.
"Healthy lifestyles is important, so exercise and eating well, lots of fruits and vegetables will help influence stroke rates.
"If you are on medication such as blood pressure medication, don't stop taking it. If you have problems with your medication, go speak to your GP because we know that if you can control those risk factors, the chances of having a stroke can be reduced quite substantially."
Stroke Foundation headquarters in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Gareth Thomas
Stroke Foundation New Zealand have been promoting the FAST campaign or F.A.S.T, which explain how to spot signs of a stroke.
The information is available in Māori, Samoan, Cook Island and Tongan.
F for face, is the face drooping on one side
A for arm, is there weakness on one side
S for speech, is it mixed up, slurred or lost
T for take action, call 111 immediately
Pacific Stroke Prevention Project Leader Tai Faalogo said she had heard positive feedback from the Pacific community, who were taking the information onboard.
"By knowing the signs, they were able to help a person having a stroke to full recovery or have the impact minimise."
Ms Faalogo said the best thing someone could do was act fast when they saw signs of a stroke.
"There are acute treatments available to reverse a stroke. Paramedics can do preparation treatment before sending the patient over to the hospital."
"Treatment in the hospital has a certain time frame when it can be administered for example, three to four hours after a stroke, for it to be effective."
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Dr Green said although a stroke could lead to death, the rate was decreasing in New Zealand.
"We do know that if you do have a stroke, there is a 15 to 20 percent risk of it causing death in the next three months, however, I don't believe there is an increase in death rates by stroke in the Pacific community."
Mrs Foster had to relearn how to walk, how to move her upper body and how to talk. After two weeks in hospital, she was fit enough to go home and continue with rehab with the Counties Manukau Health Community Stroke Team.
"My rehab is going good. I just want to get better because it has been over a year now since I have been to work or been able to drive. I want to be able to go back to the workforce and be sociable and do activities."
"It has been a hard time for me, but I try not to think about the negative stuff and focus my energy on being positive and getting better."