Chandigarh: “Stroke is emerging as the new epidemic worldwide with 1.5 to 2 million new stroke cases being reported across the globe every year. The reason for increased incidence in India, which accounts for 60 % of all stroke patients globally is lack of awareness about the disease per se and the methods of prevention,” said Dr Vineet Saggar, Senior Neurosurgeon, Livasa Hospital, Mohali.
Addressing a press conference, Dr Saggar, said that stroke remains a silent epidemic despite it being responsible for more deaths annually than those caused by AIDS, TB and malaria.
Dr Pradeep Sharma, Neurologist, said that now with a new mechanical thrombectomy technique the stroke patients can be treated in selected cases till 24 hours. In this technique the clot is either aspirated or taken out of the brain with the help of a stent without opening the brain.
Dr Jaspreet Randhawa, Neurosurgeon said,” Recently the American Stroke Association has also modified its guidelines and has recommended mechanical thrombectomy treatment for stroke patients. Thus, it is very important to be aware of the hospitals which can offer these treatments. Merely reaching the hospitals is not enough, one needs to reach a stroke ready hospital,”
Dr Swati Garg, Neurologist said, “In Indian cities including metro cities, only 3% of the eligible stroke patients receive thromboembolic drugs to remove clotting as they are brought to hospital on time. The rest are paralyzed as they are brought in late to super specialty hospitals and cannot be administered clot buster drugs,”
Thus, the stroke patient needs to rush to a hospital with comprehensive stroke care, a multidisciplinary team of emergency physicians, neurologists, interventional neuro-radiologists, neurosurgeons, anesthetists and critical care physicians, Dr Jaslovleen Kaur, neurologist, maintained.
Tips to prevent brain strokes:
1. Maintain blood pressure
2. Maintain optimum weight
3. Exercise more
4. Drink alcohol in moderation
5. Take a baby aspirin
6. Maintain diabetes
7. Quit smoking
8. Be Aware about stroke
9. Maintain healthy BMI and hips to waist ratio
