NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, FEB 9
Incidence of stroke among the youngsters is on the rise said Dr. Ralph L Sacco, MS MD FAAN FAHA, Olemberg Family Chair in Neurological Disorders, Miller Professor of Neurology, Public Health Sciences, Human Genetics, & Neurosurgery, Executive Director, Evelyn McKnight Brain Institute, Senior Associate Dean for Clinical & Translational Science, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital here on Sunday.
Delivering the 40thTS Srinivasan Endowment Oration titled “Preventing Stroke and Maintaining Brain Health” Dr. Ralph L. Sacco said that even though stroke is the second largest cause of death worldwide, the occurrence of stroke, as an overall number, has been on the decline over the last few years, but what is emerging as an area of concern is the fact that the number of young people being affected by stroke is on the increase.
The TS Srinivasan Oration is supported by the TS Srinivasan Charitable Trust and honours the memory of TS Srinivasan a scion of the TVS family who pioneered many automobile innovations and collaborations and was renowned for his humanistic qualities. The TS Srinivasan Chair established at NIMHANS has under its aegis, several research and clinical activities, and organises also a large annual Knowledge Conclave bringing together experts from across disciplines. The program guided by an international advisory board of eminent neurologists is co-organised by Neurokrish, Chennai.
Elaborating on the occurrence of stroke, Dr. Ralph L Sacco said, “Stroke is still a major cause of concern especially in low- and middle-income countries where the frequency of stroke is on the rise. Data that is available today suggests that the incidence of stroke in young and middle-aged people is on the increase and this is possibly due to the increase of metabolic risk factors such as obesity and diabetes. The most effective way to bring down the incidence of stroke is prevention. Stroke prevention is not only a task for the health sector but for the government, industries, communities and individuals as well.
Call to physicians to educate patients
Physicians should take it upon themselves to proactively educate their patients on the importance of a preventive lifestyle, namely diet, exercise, abstinence from smoking and moderate intake of alcohol. Governments also need to increase their spending in terms of spreading the message of prevention. All preventive actions should be practiced right from a young age to become habitual
A chapter on healthy lifestyle be incorporated in educational curriculum
For example, Foods that are high in fat and sodium can contribute to high blood pressure – a primary cause of stroke, must be avoided. It would be a welcome move if a chapter on healthy lifestyles is incorporated in educational curriculum”.
13 m suffered from stroke globally
In a year, an average of 13 million people suffer a stroke worldwide resulting in an average of 5 million deaths due to stroke and associated diseases and at least 5 million suffering permanent disability. It is believed thathalf of all strokes can be prevented with effective lifestyle modification which will also improve cognitive health and reduce dementia.
“Prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as stroke requires an inter-sectorial approach as it shares many common features with other NCDs such as cardiovascular, hypertension and diabetes. Stroke can be considered as a prototype NCD and there is scientific evidence that the risk of stroke can reduce substantially if preventive actions are put in place early.
By 2025, it is estimated that there will be a significant increase in deaths due to cardiovascular diseases in South-East Asia. One of the biggest reasons for occurrence of impairment due to stroke is non-recognition of symptoms in time. It is therefore critical for people to be aware of the symptoms of stroke, which includes face drooping, arm weakness or difficulty in motor functions and speech difficulty or slurring. The time between moving the patient from the place of stroke occurrence to the hospital is crucial. It would be ideal if the patient receives professional medical care within an hour of occurrence of the stroke, for effective outcome” he added.
Follow AHA’s “Life’s simple 7’’ manthra
“It is also imperative to follow what we at the American Heart Association call the ‘Life’s simple 7’ concept, which essentially entails maintaining a healthy diet, not smoking, regular physical activity, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure control, in order to avoid the possibility of getting a stroke.” Dr. Sacco advised.
