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Stroke
is leading cause of death
There are 15 million people who have a stroke each year. According to
the World Health Organization, 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 annually than those attributed to AIDS , tuberculosis and malaria put together. Stroke is also the leading cause of
long-term disability irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity or country.
Three-time Tour de France champion and stroke survivor Alberto Contador
notes "Stroke can attack anytime and at any age. The good news is that
stroke can be beaten. Not only can it be prevented, but people who have
experienced a stroke can regain their quality of life with the appropriate long-term care and support. I am an example."
About
Stoke by an expert
Explaining all about ‘Stroke’ on World Stroke Day in an exclusive interview to
Daijiworld is Dr Rajesh Shetty is given:
Q: What exactly is called a Stroke? What are its symptoms?
A: It is a sudden onset of paralysis of one half of the body or difficulty in speaking or deviation of mouth to one side. It is the
Number 1 cause of disability in the world and the third commonest cause
of death.
Q: How does it happen? Are there different kinds of stroke?
A: There care two types of stroke-
1. Ischemic which occurs in 85% of patients
2. Haemorrhagic which is seen in 15% of patients
Q: What is an Ischemic stroke?
A: It is a sudden block in the blood supply to the brain, causing an
infarct (damage) to the brain leading to paralysis of one side of the body.
Q: What is Haemorrhagic stroke?
A: It is a sudden rupture of artery within the brain leading to brain
haemorrhage and paralysis of one half of the body.
Q: How exactly the disease can be treated in the best possible
way?
A: Urgent reopening of the blocked artery can save the brain and reverse
the paralysis and prevent the disability.
For maximum benefit the patient must reach the hospital within 3 hours.
In that case, a drug called rtPA is injected IV into the patient i.e.;
injecting the drug through veins of the patient.
After 3 hours the brain damage is hard to reverse and the damage may
become permanent. Hence reaching the hospital within 3 hours is of paramount importance.
Q: If incase the patient fails to reach within 3 hours isn’t there any
other alternative? Can any other procedure help out the
patient?
A: If the patient reaches between 3 to 6 hours, there is a procedure
called IA(intra arterial) rtPA Thrombolysis. Through the groin, a micro-catheter is passed and taken into the brain where the artery is
blocked and then the rtPA drug is injected. The clot is broken up, blood
flow to the brain is restored and paralysis is reversed.
Q: Can you give an example of this kind of treatment done in your
hospital?
A patient named Janaki (50) was admitted in the hospital for cardiac
valve replacement surgery. When she was in the hospital itself she developed right-sided paralysis and inability to speak. In her case we
could not inject the drug through the veins. Hence the IA rtPA drug was
injected. Immediately the paralysis was reversed and the patient was
normal and the very next day she was discharged.
Q: Who is at risk of getting the disease?
A: People with hypertension (BP), diabetes (sugar), Hypercholesterolemia
(increased cholesterol/ obesity), Heavy smokers, one who have family
history of the disease, people with heart disease are more prone to develop stroke. BP, Sugar, Cholesterol and smoking are considered as the
main risk factors of stroke.
Q: How can the disease be prevented?
A: Mainly the risk factors needs to be controlled and regular exercise
or brisk walking for 30 minutes a day is adequate to prevent stroke.
Q: Do the stroke patients usually manage to reach the hospital on
time?
A: Sadly, only 5% of patients reach the hospital on time despite all the
awareness created on the issue.
Q: What is your message to the readers on World Stroke Day?
A: ‘Time is Brain’; ‘Time Lost is Brain Lost’. Reaching the hospital
within 3 hours can save a life. Kindly spread the message to all you care.
Dr Rajesh Shetty can be contacted on - +91 9845084424
e-mail – **shettydocneuro@hotmail.com* <mailto:shettydocneuro@hotmail.com>
(Source: Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd Mangalore) |
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