Healthy Soch
Healthy Soch
New Delhi, October 23, 2019:
Indian Stroke Association and Institute of Neurosciences Apollo Hospital have organized a “Public Awareness Program” with the aim to educate the public regarding “Stroke recognition, management and prevention”. The program was organized by Dr Vinit Suri, Senior Consultant Neurology and Coordinator Deptt. Of Neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital & President, Indian Stroke Association. The meeting was attended by prominent personalities including Shri L K Advani (Former Deputy Prime Minister of India), Ms Shahnaz Husain (Founder of Leading beauty chain product), Mrs. Sharmila Tagore (Indian Film Actress), Mr. Ashok Chauhan (Founder Amity University), Mrs Pia Singh (Chairman DLF), Mr.Vijai Kapoor (Former Lieutenant Governor of Delhi) apart from many other prominent personalities. The invitees included more than 200 stroke survivors and their families who were educated on how to manage and prevent stroke along with the felicitation ceremony.
Dr Suri explained that stroke is the second leading cause of death globally, one Stroke occurs every 2 second and claims 1 life every 6 seconds. 1 in 4 people in the world will develop a stroke in their lifetime. Despite such a high occurrence and devastation produced by stroke, public awareness about the illness is extremely poor. Stroke can be recognized by the pneumonic BEFAST (B- Sudden Balance loss; E- Sudden loss of vision in 1 or both Eyes, F- Face droop, A- Arm drift and S- Slurred or difficult Speech
Stroke can be cured or its impact can be reduced significantly if the patient can be managed in the first few hours called as Golden Hours. The Golden Hours for intravenous injection which dissolves the clot is 4.5 hours and for mechanical thrombectomy where the clot in the brain is pulled out by angiography is 6 hours (24 hours in selected patients)
Stroke is not a disease only of the elderly and 10-15% of strokes occur in the young. Lifestyle issues especially smoking and drug abuse contribute to some of the strokes in this young age group.
80% of Strokes are Preventable by simple measures including control of blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and life style changes including regular exercises, losing weight, stopping smoking and tobacco chewing and drinking only in moderate amounts.
healthysoch
