STROKE WEEK: Paul and Karin Mahar, of Raumati Beach, understand the struggle strokes can have on families.
At 42, Raumati Beach woman Karin Mahar never expected to go to bed and wake up unable to walk.
In May 2015, with no earlier signs to indicate her health was about to take a dive, the wife and mother of one suffered a stroke.
"I had a bad cold and decided to go to bed early, which was something I never did.
"At about 8.30pm I got up for something and fell down.
"My legs wouldn't cooperate.
"I didn't call out, I just spent the next five to 10 minutes going down the hallway and when I got to the lounge, I told my husband Paul and son what had happened."
The paralysis went away so she went back to bed until around 4am when, still worried, her husband woke her to say he was ringing an ambulance.
"I remember feeling so relieved and when they arrived, I couldn't move again.
"They said they thought I'd had a stroke."
Karin was among the 10 per cent of New Zealanders under 65 to have a stroke.
She was among the 2500 people affected annually by the second largest killer in New Zealand.
In Wellington Hospital, where she stayed for three weeks before shifting to Kenepuru Hospital, Karin was unable to walk or use her right hand.
"It took ages to eat and it was a bit messy because it's like that when half your mouth is droopy.
"Gradually I could walk again but would twist my ankle a lot, and had to have a foot brace."
Karin also needed therapy to correct her speech problems.
"My speech came right pretty quickly and by six months it was barely recognisable.
"By then I could also read more than half a page without being too tired, but it still takes a lot of concentration to work the remote and phone without becoming frustrated.
"Also, saying the correct word such as left or right continues to be hard when giving directions."
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that every day, around 24 New Zealanders suffer a stroke.
The leading cause of stroke, among a collection of triggers, is high blood pressure.
Of the one in five New Zealanders living with high blood pressure, a third does not know.
According to the Stroke Foundation New Zealand, high blood pressure puts stress on the walls of blood vessels and can cause them to break down, which can lead to a stroke.
It can also accelerate common forms of heart disease, or blood clots and plaque to break off the artery walls and block a brain artery, again resulting in stroke.
Consequently, this year's Stroke Week, running from next Monday, October 2 to Sunday, October 8, is focusing on blood pressure checks.
Three-quarters of all strokes, professionals said, could have been avoided if patients had maintained a healthy blood pressure.
The Kapiti community is encouraged to visit local New World or Pak'nSave stores for a free blood pressure check on Saturday, October 7, between 10am and 2pm.
Karin, who is one of the estimated 60,000 stroke survivors living in New Zealand, encouraged people to take up the opportunity for a check, as well as to live a healthier lifestyle.
The Stroke Foundation said people should be eating less salt and processed foods and more fresh fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and lean meats.
"Not smoking and getting active are also key factors," the foundation's health promotion manager Julia Rout said.
"Many people with high blood pressure don't know it as it generally has no signs or symptoms.
"If you're over 45, having your blood pressure checked at least annually is an important part of health maintenance, much like a warrant of fitness on your car."
She advised people to talk to their doctors about checking their blood pressure and cholesterol.
She also advised people to keep an eye out for signs of stroke using the FAST message.
FAST stands for face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty and the importance of time.
Transient Ischaemic Attacks, identified as mini-strokes, can happen prior to a stroke, which disappear within minutes or hours, but should be seen as a clear warning that a more severe stroke might follow.
"If you see any of these signs in yourself or someone else you should call 111 immediately because getting help fast means a better chance of recovery.
