A happy-go-lucky 35-year-old, Kaushal Kant Sharma, was presented with symptoms such as giddiness, instability while walking and blurring of vision. But he did not take them seriously. Initial MRIs and CT Scans stated his condition to be absolutely normal. But when these symptoms did not go away, he was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals for further evaluation. Investigations were done but his ECHO came out to be normal. It was the MRI (Brain) which showed signs of a stroke. Since the problem was detected at an early stage, he was treated and saved from the adverse effects of the stroke.
One in six persons worldwide, suffers from a stroke in their lifetime and every six seconds, someone somewhere dies from a stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of mortality and disability in developed countries after Cancer and heart diseases.
29th October 2010 is World Stroke Day. The theme this year is “One in Six” to raise awareness about the causes, risks, and other related factor to this medical problem. Stroke is the second leading cause of death for people above the age of 60, and the fifth leading cause in people aged 15 to 59. Stroke also attacks children, including newborns. Each year, nearly six million people die from stroke. In fact, stroke is responsible for more deaths every year than those attributed to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria put together.
“Stroke is a devastating problem. It is a life threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention, failing which can cause Paralysis, Vision changes, Speech Changes, Serious Mood fluctuations, or even death. So, urgent treatment makes the world of a difference that may limit physical damage or otherwise may cause life-altering consequences,” says Dr. P N Renjen, Sr. Consultant, Neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.
Despite Stroke being the third most common cause of death and a cause of disability, the lack of early recognition of its symptoms is the most important cause for delayed treatment. Stroke or Brain Attack is a medical emergency because brain cells start dying quickly and the longer the treatment is delayed, the worse is the damage. This sense of urgency in stroke treatment is referred to as “Time is Brain” i.e. time lost leads to brain tissue loss.
“Compared to a heart attack, a brain attack is difficult to identify because of several reasons. Patients of heart attack have normal mentation and thus it is not uncommon for the patient to himself seek medical help. Brain attack on the other hand impairs mentation or the ability to communicate or mobilize and thus patients have to rely on relatives or friends to recognize the symptoms and to act promptly. Thus it is not only important for oneself to be aware of the symptoms of stroke, but one should ensure that friends, relatives and coworkers are also aware about the signs of Stroke,” says Dr. P N Renjen, Sr. Consultant, Neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.
The burden of stroke can be reduced by acting on 6 challenges: Know your personal risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol; Be physically active and exercise regularly; Avoid obesity by keeping to a healthy diet; Limit alcohol consumption; Avoid cigarette smoke; Learn to recognize the warning signs of a stroke and how to take action.
Stroke is indiscriminate and does not respect borders. Individual countries cannot address the challenges of stroke in isolation. World Stroke Day aims to raise awareness among the public by urging them to choosing a healthy lifestyle.
