Though preventable, stroke strikes 1 in 6

Stroke, a condition when blood supply to brain is disrupted or severely reduced, kills more people than those attributed to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria put together. Every six seconds, someone somewhere will die of stroke. One in six people will have a stroke at sometime in their lives. But a very few people actually know how to prevent or recognise stroke at early stage and seek treatment in time.
Experts urge to act urgently to increase awareness, to develop national prevention strategy and improve facility for treatment. In order to put the fight against stroke front and center on the global health agenda, World Stroke Day is going to be observed today with the theme "1 in 6".
Stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or leading to the brain bursts or is blocked by a blood clot. Hence, part of the brain is deprived of blood or oxygen it needs. Consequently it starts dying characterised by the following signs and symptoms — paralysis or a weak feeling in the face, arm or leg, trouble speaking or understanding, unexplained dizziness, blurred or poor vision in one or both eyes, loss of balance or an unexplained fall, difficulty swallowing, confusion and unconsciousness. Depending on the severity of the stroke, paralysis or death may occur.
There is widespread misconception that stroke is a disease of heart and the term is taken as an alternative to heart attack. In many cases, family members take the stroke victim to a cardiac centre first rather than to a neurology care facility.
Stroke is a medical emergency and any minute saved can make a big difference to survival. It is also now clear that stroke survivors will do better if they get prompt treatment and care. But the facility centres to provide comprehensive stroke care is extremely inadequate in Bangladesh.
National Institute of Neuroscience which could provide care at minimum cost has not yet been started. As there is no population based national survey, people of the country are unaware of how many people are dying or becoming disabled in a year. Experts say that the number is significantly high and it is increasing due to lifestyle changes. They urged for a national programme for stroke prevention in Bangladesh.
Evidence shows stroke is largely preventable with cost effective interventions and stroke survivors can fully recover and regain quality life with the appropriate long-term care and support.
According to the World Stroke Organisation, there are six steps anyone can take to reduce their risk of stroke:
* Know your personal risk factors — high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood cholesterol etc.
* Be physically active and exercise regularly
* Avoid obesity by keeping a healthy diet
* Limit your alcohol consumption
* Avoid cigarette smoke. If you smoke, seek help to stop
* Learn to recognise the warning signs of a stroke
People are suffering from stroke whereas, the key to prevention is in our hands. Let's join our hands together to fight stroke and its catastrophic consequences.

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