World Stroke Day

Ludhiana, October 28, 2014: World Stroke Day is observed on October 29 every year to understand the serious nature and high rates of stroke, raise awareness of the prevention and treatment of the condition, and ensure better care and support for stroke survivors. On this day, organisations around the world facilitate various events emphasizing education, testing, and initiatives to improve the damaging effects of stroke worldwide.
According to Dr Gagandeep Singh (Professor & Head of Neurology), DMCH, Ludhiana Stroke is the third-leading cause of death and fourth leading cause of permanent disability worldwide. Its prevalence varies in different regions of India and ranges from 40 to 270 per 100 000 population. Previously stroke was known to be the disease of only developed countries, but recently its incidence is increasing in India like diabetes and heart disease probably because of sedentary lifestyle, urbanization and improved life expectancy.
Dr Rajinder Bansal, Professor of Neurology, informed that stroke, known as “Brain Attack” is a medical emergency and is mainly of two types. First type of stroke is ischemic stroke, which occurs due to occlusion of blood vessel leading to blood clot and another type of stroke is hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs due to rupture of a blood vessel. The patients, who have hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol levels are also at high risk of stroke. But these days, young stroke is also getting common.
The symptoms of stroke include sudden weakness of one side of the body, with or without facial weakness, numbness of one side, inability to speak or slurring of speech or imbalance of body, said Dr Birinder Singh Paul, Associate Professor of Neurology.
Dr Monika Singla, Assistant Professor of Neurology, remarked that each year, more women are having strokes than men. A recent survey showed that approximately 55,000 more women than men have stroke each year. Women who are taking birth control pills, during pregnancy, after delivery, using hormone replacement therapy are more prone to stroke. Women having migraine headaches are also having 3-6 times more risk of stroke, as compared to women without migraine.
Treatment of stroke is available if patient reaches to the hospital in time i.e. within 3- 4.5 hours of acute ischemic stroke. DMCH has the facility of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) injection, which can break the clot if given well in time. This tPA injection helps in reducing the disability significantly. Usually there is delay in recognition of stroke symptoms as patient himself is unable to raise the alarm because of disability and attendants recognize the symptoms usually late. These thrombolytic services are available in DMC & H for a long time now with dedicated stroke care unit and trained medical personnel to look after stroke patients. It is advisable to have regular physiotherapy and exercise is must after stroke. DMCH has a regular stroke helpline number 09915355100, which is available 24 hours for all the weekdays.
Stroke can be prevented if we take care of its risk factors well in time. These include:-
? Controlling blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol controls stroke risk.
? Smoking should be stopped.
? During pregnancy, women should get their blood pressure regularly checke and elderly women should be screened for irregular heart beat.
-----------------------------
Readers may send their news/views/feedback to us:
[email protected]