Primary Prevention
Primary prevention is an individually based, clinical approach to disease prevention. It is directed toward prevention of the initial occurrence of a disorder in otherwise healthy individuals. Primary prevention is usually implemented in the primary care setting, and the physician, advanced practice nurse or patient may initiate a discussion of stroke risk reduction. Both primary prevention and health promotion recommendations related to stroke (lifestyle and risk factor management, hypertension screening, dyslipidemia screening and diabetes management) emphasize the importance of screening and monitoring those patients at high risk of a first stroke event.1
Best Practices in Primary Prevention of Stroke
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario recommended Best Practice Guidelines for Stroke Care, 2003 are:
- Educate individuals at high risk of stroke, those who have experienced a TIA or stroke, family members, and health care providers about stroke prevention, relevant information resources, and how to gain access to them.
The 2010 Canadian Stroke Strategy Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care give detailed recommendations for the assessment and management of lifestyle and risk factors for stroke. These can be viewed at: http://www.strokebestpractices.ca
Committees:
SWO Stroke Strategy Stroke Prevention Subcommittee
Resources and Contacts:
Staff of Southwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Strategy is eager to work with primary care practitioners to support stroke prevention. Please contact us so that we can discuss how to work together.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation has an excellent tool to help individuals identify their personal risk factors for stroke and how they can reduce personal risk. They can access this tool online at www.heartandstroke.ca, clicking Health Information, and then Health eTools, or by going to address http://ww1.heartandstroke.ca/hs_Risk.asp?media=risk_ont. This web site can also provide personalized help to reduce blood pressure.
Sodium (salt) contributes greatly to the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Several web sites offer information on sodium and suggestions on how to reduce the sodium people consume. These include www.sodium101.ca, www.lowersodium.ca, and www.giveyourheadashake.ca.
Health Nexus has developed several stroke prevention resources to support healthcare providers, health educators and community organizations in both urban and rural settings. Health Nexus houses a number of resources on stroke prevention. These can be found by scrolling down at http://www.healthnexus.ca/services/resources.htm. It is also one of the parent agencies of the Prevent Stroke web site which provides bilingual, professional resources.