Skip to main content
Hamburger Menu Close

Advertisement

Women

Women and strokes: Why females have a harder time recovering and how having a community may be the best rehab

More women are getting strokes and at a younger age too. Their recovery is uphill and especially challenging, given their caregiving roles at home. For some, the resilience, friendship and community they found at Stroke Support Station played a big part in their rehabilitation.

Women and strokes: Why females have a harder time recovering and how having a community may be the best rehab

Female stroke survivors Suzilawati (left) and Miaoyi met at S3 and support each other through their rehabilitation and recovery. (Photo: Stroke Support Station)

New: You can now listen to articles.

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

It’s a common misconception that strokes only affect seniors. Strokes also affect younger people between 40 and 59 years, according to the HealthXchange website. What’s more, strokes are rising in women too.

The latest data on strokes from 2021 shows that there were 9,860 cases recorded in Singapore – an increase by 57 per cent in the last decade. According to the National Registry of Diseases (NRDO), the number of women getting strokes has increased by 54 per cent.

Women in Singapore often have dual roles at home and at work. So having a full-time job or earning an income while balancing household duties will prove to be a challenge while recovering or living with a stroke.

S3 – SUPPORT FOR STROKE SURVIVORS

Cue S3, or Stroke Support Station, a nonprofit started by the late Chew Poh Yim (the wife of Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean) in 2015. She recognised the need for increased community support for stroke survivors who need help with integrating into society.

S3 is Singapore’s first and only stroke-focused community rehabilitation and wellness centre; it has two locations, at Enabling Village and Jurong Point. (Photo: Stroke Support Station)

The charity is Singapore’s first and only stroke-focused community rehabilitation and wellness centre. It helps both stroke survivors and their caregivers with continued care through advanced assistive technology and conventional therapy, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. All their therapists are licensed.

The organisation works in partnership with medical professionals and therapists from various hospitals in Singapore.

S3 helps both male and female stroke survivors and to date, has helped more than 400 female stroke survivors. (Photo: Stroke Support Station)

In addition, S3 has developed its own programmes to help patients maximise their recovery, regain their independence and reintegrate into society. These include neurologic music therapy, art therapy, mindfulness practice, chair yoga and even animal-assisted therapy.

With its advanced facilities across its two locations – at the Enabling Village and Jurong Point – S3 aims to help stroke survivors rehabilitate from the illness but also supports their caregivers and families as they learn to live with the condition.

While S3 helps both male and female stroke survivors, to date, it has helped more than 800 stroke survivors, with half of these being women patients.

WHY HELPING WOMEN STROKE SURVIVORS IS IMPORTANT

According to a Canadian study, women are more disadvantaged in rehabilitation following a stroke. The review of stroke rehabilitation literature found that 57 per cent of participants in such studies were male, while females made up 43 per cent.

The problem is that researchers rarely analysed data by gender, leading to a one-size-fits-all approach to stroke care, which may be irrelevant for the post-stroke rehab needs of women.

Studies also concentrated on males returning to work, despite the fact that dual-income families are commonplace.

Having a shortage of income from one partner being unable to work is already challenging. Coupled with the medical bills following a debilitating condition such as a stroke, a woman unable to rejoin the workforce is difficult, not just for herself but also for her family. The loss of income often causes strained relationships.

Another study found that globally, women account for 56 per cent of persons who experience strokes, but they have a higher lifetime risk of strokes because of their longer life expectancy. With a longer lifespan, their post-stroke lives are also in less favourable shape than their male counterparts.

S3 executive director Ng Rei Na said: “According to the recently-released stroke report by NRDO, we have also found that while there are more men having strokes, there are more female deaths resulting from stroke, than that of men.”

Physically, female stroke survivors face challenges with their health, which hinder their ability to be carers of their family.

“Women in Singapore have more than one role in the home. They are not only income earners, but they also hold the bulk of the housework and childcare responsibilities,” Ng added.

THE POWER OF A STROKE COMMUNITY

All is not lost though – women can find strength and support from their communities. When women get together, they often find a kindred spirit and spur one another on in their road to recovery.

Post-stroke activities are not easy – coordination, physical and mental states are all contributing factors to stroke rehabilitation being the key to recovery.

At S3, female stroke survivors often meet other survivors when they participate in wellness programmes designed to support their psycho-social needs and improve cognitive development.

S3 members (from left) Joanne Bui, Zhang Miaoyi and and Suzilawati Binte Mohamed Rais at a World Stroke Day event in October 2023. (Photo: Stroke Support Station)

These three female stroke survivors – who met each other at S3 and became friends – share their recovery journey after their stroke.

ZHANG MIAOYI, 41

Zhang suffered a haemorrhagic stroke in November 2019 and spent five months in hospital. She then embarked on outpatient physiotherapy by Jurong Community Hospital until February 2021 where she transitioned to S3 for further rehabilitation.

A mother of two, Zhang found the initial post-stroke phase – where she was completely immobile – the most challenging. “I spent days confined to the bed and only managed to sit up for short periods of time. Caring for my three-year-old daughter and five-year-old son then was impossible. In fact, the doctors initially informed me I had only a few days left (to live).”

Female stroke survivors Suzilawati (left) and Miaoyi met at S3 and support each other through their rehabilitation and recovery. (Photo: Stroke Support Station)

Zhang, however, did pull through although her recovery was long. She has since been able to move and takes part in several rehabilitation programmes at S3, using cutting-edge rehabilitation technology such as the exoskeleton programme (a wearable robotic machine that trains survivors to walk and stand again).

“The therapists track and review my progress, and guide me to live independently, teaching me to prepare simple home-cooked meals for myself. They even recommended an electric wheelchair. This has opened up new opportunities and allows me to be more mobile and interact better with fellow stroke survivors.”

She has also made friends at the Active SG gym opposite the S3 at Enabling Village.

“I’ve discovered a profound resilience within myself and found that regardless of the challenges that one faces, with perseverance and gratitude, they can all be overcome.

“The immense value of my family’s love and the community’s support taught me that we are not meant to go through life’s trials alone: We’ll encounter others who are navigating similar waters and together, we can overcome.”

JOANNE BUI, 51

A self-confessed workaholic, Bui collapsed in front of her bed in November 2019. She was discovered only four hours later and taken to Singapore General Hospital where she was diagnosed with a haemorrhagic stroke.

Stroke survivors participating in one of S3’s wellness programmes. (Photo: Stroke Support Station)

Bui’s recovery journey started a month later, transferring to Jurong Community Hospital for six weeks before transferring again to St Luke’s Hospital. She was finally moved to S3 for rehabilitation and discharged in 2022.

“I experienced a period of depression because I had trouble getting used to my mobility impairment and struggled to control my muscles. Even my relationship with my daughter was tense. I received unwavering support and encouragement from my extended family and friends, and this played a crucial role in my progress.”

Bui used a wheelchair for a brief period during her recovery but she was determined not to rely on it. The therapists customised her rehabilitation programme, which allowed Bui to progress from wheelchair to walking aid, to walking unassisted.

Today, Bui has returned to full-time work as an office manager at her previous workplace. She has since been discharged from S3 but stays in touch with her therapist.

Although she has limited mobility on her left fingers, she heads to the Active SG gym there for fitness and found the equipment inclusive for individuals with disabilities. “It allows me to stay fit without fearing whether the equipment is suitable for me.

“This experience has shown me a different side of humanity. I now learned the importance of understanding and listening to my body. Now, I prioritise self-care and pay attention to my body’s signals.”

SUZILAWATI BINTE MOHAMED RAIS, 51

In October 2018, after suffering from headaches for two weeks, Suzilawati lost feeling in her left side – face, arm and leg. She also felt dizziness and sudden confusion.

Suzilawati was diagnosed with right corona radiata infarct or what is known as “white matter stroke”. The corona radiata carries much of the brain’s neural traffic. So strokes like this can cause loss of sensation on one side of the body and affect muscle coordination and control. In some cases, it can cause paralysis on the affected side.

Suzilawati found the emotional and mental challenges more taxing than the physical ones. “I wanted to go back to work. So a disability like mine where my left side of the body is affected, my movement is slowed down and it can be daunting.

“To get back to work, I needed to be mentally strong and also be patient as I needed to do things at a slower pace.”

Suzilawati (right treadmill) and fellow stroke survivor Miaoyi using the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill at S3. (Photo: Stroke Support Station)

She used a motorised wheelchair for a while before gaining the ability to walk again. Her pet peeve then was when commuters on the MRT were impatient towards people with disabilities.

Throughout her recovery at S3, Suzilawati did physiotherapy, occupational therapy and participated in S3’s mental wellness programme. “The wellness programme helped me build my confidence and self-esteem. Without it, I wouldn’t be here.”

Other programmes such as the anti-gravitational treadmill called the AlterG and the RoboWalk, a treadmill system designed for gait correction, helped Suzilawati, and she progressed from the wheelchair to walking on her own.

“After rehab at S3, I was able to go to the gym, kayaking and even swimming,” Suzilawati said.

Suzilawati said the comeback is always stronger than the setback. “When we are at our lowest, that’s when we must fight the hardest for that great comeback. And we can only do that with the support of family and our friends in the community.“

Stroke Support Station or S3 helps stroke survivors and their families through rehabilitation and community support. Membership is free. To register for S3 services, contact them at info [at] s3.org.sg () or at 6473 3500. For more information, go to the Stroke Support Station website.

CNA Women is a section on CNA Lifestyle that seeks to inform, empower and inspire the modern woman. If you have women-related news, issues and ideas to share with us, email CNAWomen [at] mediacorp.com.sg.

Source: CNA/pc

Advertisement

RECOMMENDED

Advertisement