Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Oct 28: “On the occasion of World Stroke Day, A J Hospital will conduct a comprehensive stroke check-up at a concessional rate,” said Dr Suresh B V, consultant neurologist here at Hotel Ocean Pearl on Friday October 28.

Addressing media persons, Dr Suresh said, “October 29 was established by the World Stroke Organization in 2006 to spread public awareness on world’s high stroke risk and stroke prevalence. World Stroke Day 2016 aims to reduce the global burden of stroke by the theme 'Stroke is Treatable'.”

“A J Hospital will conduct a comprehensive stroke check up from November 7 to 12 at a concessional rate to screen patients who could be at risk of stroke. The check-up package offered at Rs 2,000 against the actual cost of Rs 5,440 will include blood investigations such as CBC, FBS, serum creatinine, lipid profile, carotid Doppler study, ECG, CT head (plain) and consultation with neurologist. Check-up will be conducted with appointments only.” 

Dr Suresh presented a brief presentation on what is stroke, its causes and cure.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops or there is a tear in the blood vessel of the brain leading to brain haemorrhage. A stroke is sometimes called a ‘brain attack’. If blood flow is cut off for longer than a few seconds, the brain cannot get nutrients and oxygen. Brain cells can die, causing lasting damage.

Causes of stroke:

Ischemic and haemorrhagic are the two major types of stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot and also by clogging of arteries due to plaque. Haemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in a part of the brain gets weak and bursts open. Hemorrhagic stroke may occur when people take blood thinners. It may also occur to those who have high blood pressure. An ischemic stroke can develop bleeding and become a haemorrhagic stroke.

Risk factors:

Hypertension (blood pressure)
Irregular heartbeat, called atrial fibrillation
Diabetes
Family history of stroke
High cholesterol
Increasing age, especially after age 55
Ethnicity
Cardiac diseases
Smokers, high-fat-diet and lack of exercise
Women on birth control pills (especially those who smoke and are older than 35)
Women who take hormone replacement therapy

Symptoms:

Symptoms of stroke depend on the part of the brain that is damaged. In some cases, a person may not know that a stroke has occurred. Most of the time, symptoms develop suddenly and without warning. Symptoms may occur on and off for the first day or two. Symptoms are usually most severe when the stroke first happens, but they may worsen gradually.

Difficulty in speaking, deviation of mouth to one side, weakness of one half of the body, numbness or tingling on one side of the body, loss of balance or coordination or trouble walking, confusion or loss of memory are some of the symptoms. 

When to contact a medical professional:

Stroke is a medical emergency that needs to be treated immediately. The acronym F A S T is an easy way to remember signs of stroke and what to do if a stroke has occurred. The most important action to take is to immediately call for emergency assistance. Time plays a crucial role in the treatment of stroke. If the patient arrives within 3 to 4.5 hours of symptom onset, the blocked artery could be reopened by giving a clot-busting drug to dissolve the clot. 

F A S T stands for:

FACE – Ask the person to smile. Check to see if one side of the face droops
ARMS – Ask the person to raise both arms. See if one arm drifts downward
SPEECH – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Check to see if the words are slurred and if the sentence is repeated correctly
TIME – If a person shows any of these symptoms, time is essential. It is important to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.  Act FAST.  

Stroke prevention:

Addressing risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, obesity, heart diseases, family history of stroke and no smoking substantially lessen the chances of a stroke. 

For appointments, patients may call 0824 6613165 or write to: ajhlounge@gmail.com.