World Stroke Day: Stroke attacks on rise, are treatable, say docs

Ludhiana, October 28

Stroke or brain attack is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide.

In the press conference held at Christian Medical College today to commemorate World Stroke Day on October 29, Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian, Principal, Christian Medical College (CMC), who is also the president of the Indian Stroke Association and the vice-president of the World Stroke Organisation, said timely recognition of stroke symptoms was crucial to receive highly-effective treatment such as clot bursting drug injection and removal of clot using stent retriever.

Recent advances in stroke treatments have introduced newer treatments such as removal of clots that block the blood supply to brain by using special stents called ‘clot retrievals’ — Dr Vivek Agarwal, Assistant Professor, Division of Neurointervention, CMC

Risk factors

High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, irregular heart rhythm, excess alcohol intake, obesity, lack of physical activity and Unhealthy Diet.

Stroke warning symptoms

• Sudden weakness in one side face, arm and leg
• Sudden numbness in one side of the body
• Sudden difficulty in speaking and understanding
• Sudden imbalance, giddiness and unconsciousness
• Sudden new onset headache.

Dr Rajeswar, Associate Professor of neurology, said stroke signs and symptoms could be recognised using the following acronym: FAST — F-drooping of one side of face, A-arm weakness, S-sudden trouble speaking and T-time to reach a stroke ready hospital.

Dr Vivek Agarwal, Assistant Professor, Division of Neurointervention, CMC, added that early treatment of stroke was of paramount importance as it could reduce the disability associated with strokes.

“Recent advances in stroke treatments have introduced newer treatments such as removal of clots that block the blood supply to brain by using special stents called ‘clot retrievals’,” he added.