80% strokes can be prevented; Expert

Chandigarh, October 29, 2019: The most common cardiovascular diseases are coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebro-vascular diseases (like stroke).
This was stated by Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, Director cardio-vascular & endovascular sciences at Ivy Hospital, Mohali on World Stoke Day today.
He added that all diseases of the heart & blood vessels along with vascular diseases of the brain constitute cardiovascular diseases. Stroke occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain gets interrupted or blocked and consequently, brain cells get damaged or die leading to paralysis of certain parts of the body. The interruption of blood supply to the brain may occur as a result of clogging or blockage of the internal carotid artery leading to an ischemic stroke.”
He said as per Federation for World Stoke Day one in 6 people get a stroke in their lifetime and one out of four survivors of stroke suffer another stroke. Treatments that can prevent a second stroke include medications to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation, surgery or stenting for selected patients with severe carotid artery narrowing, he remarked.
“One of the most important causes of a stroke or mini stroke is blockage in the internal carotid artery .The blockage is caused by cholesterol plaque or atheroma, said Dr Bedi
This disease is called extra-cranial carotid artery stenosis and its treatment is done through a delicate but very simple and effective procedure called carotid endarterectomy or by stenting of the blockage of the internal carotid artery, he maintained.
However, as per a number of large trials , the results of surgery are overall better than stenting, he pointed out.
About 80% strokes can be prevented and the morbidity and mortality associated with this killer disease can be greatly reduced by changes in lifestyle, control of risk factors and surgery where indicated, Dr Bedi asserted.