Prevention

Communities living in healthy environments that support healthy lifestyles with access to the resources needed to live healthy lives (including economic, security, social support, and mental wellbeing)

Whānau are supported to : stay well, are supported to understand and reduce their risk of long term conditions, set and achieve personal health goals and have the information and resources needed to effectively manage their health

Whānau are kaitiaki of their own health

Whānau know how and when to access support to manage their conditions

Health professionals work in partnership with whanau to provide ongoing support and follow up

The risk of stroke is reduced through treating and addressing key risk factors for stroke, including hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, atrial fibrillation (AF), poor diet, obesity, smoking and lack of physical exercise. The use of innovative strategies and technologies should be encouraged to detect and address physical and social-economic risk factors for stroke.

Secondary prevention must be considered for all people who have already had a stroke. Every person with stroke should be assessed and informed of their risk factors for a further stroke and possible strategies to modify identified risk factors.

Interventions should be individualised and delivered using behavioural techniques (such as educational or motivational counselling)

For Māori and Pacific people, involvement of whānau and culturally-appropriate service providers is advised.

The risk factors include:

• smoking cessation: nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion or nortriptyline therapy, nicotine receptor partial agonist therapy and/or behavioural therapy should be considered

• An eating pattern that is low in fat (especially saturated fat) and sodium, and high in fibre from fruit and vegetables.

• Regular physical activity

• avoidance of excessive alcohol