‘In 20 years, stroke cases have increased rapidly’

NAGPUR: Stroke (brain attack) takes the zeal out of the lives of almost everyone who survives it. Around 60-70% of those hit by stroke end up with some sort of disability. Unlike in case of many other diseases, certain patients of stroke fight against the odds and live a positive and successful life. This spirit was focus of this year’s World Stroke Day, observed on October 29, on the theme ‘Up again after stroke’.

Stroke occurs when blood vessels supplying the brain either rupture or a clot is formed in them. Clot formation is responsible for 80% of the cases.

“Dr Vivek Divekar, a surgeon, was a rare example of grit and determination. He had suffered a stroke and become wheelchair bound permanently. Still he would go to the Government Medical College and Hospital and teach. Since he was a surgeon, he couldn’t continue with this highly skilled job. So, he studied radiology and also taught and practised it. I give his example to my patients,” said Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram, senior neurologist and president of Tropical Neurology group of World Federation of Neurology.

Stroke is among the leading causes of death and disability cases worldwide. “In the last 20 years, cases of stroke have increased significantly. At least one person develops stroke every two seconds. Worldwide, 17 million people suffer stroke every year, and of them six million do not survive,” said Dr Meshram.

High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, lack of exercise, truncal obesity and high cholesterol, tension, wrong diet, alcohol and drug abuse, heart disease and air pollution and vitamin B12 deficiency account for about 90% cases of stroke.

Dr Yogesh Kalkonde, working with Search NGO in Gadchiroli, said people with hypertension have 4-5 times more chances of suffering a stroke. Just by controlling blood pressure, stroke can be reduced by 50%. “The incidence in India is 4 in 1,000. Seven lakh die in India every year due to stroke. Of these 71% people are from rural areas,” he said.

Dr Dinesh Kabra from Central India Institute of Medical Sciences said it is important to identify early signs of stroke like drooping of face, limb weakness, change in speech, difficulty in walking or impairment of vision.

According to Dr Satish Lahoti, neurologist from Wockhardt Hospital, there are mini strokes also in which there is complete recovery. “11% patients with mini stroke develop major stroke in the next seven days and 30% patients develop major stroke in the next five years. So, symptoms of mini stroke should never be ignored,” he said.

After stroke, a lot of effort goes into rehabilitation process like physiotherapy and occupational therapy, speech and swallowing exercises, giving up addictions and the biggest being the continued support of the caretaker family.