Over 11 Million Strokes Occur Annually In South East Asia Region Including Sri Lanka -WHO Regional Director

Over 11 million Strokes occur annually in South East Asia Region which Sri Lanka is  a member country and around 4 million in the region have died annually due to the disease according to Dr.Poonam Ketrapal Singh the director general of World Health Organization (WHO) for South East Asia.

Issuing a statement regarding the World Stroke Day which falls on 29th of October Dr.Poonam has stressed that approximately 30% of stroke survivors in the region were seriously disabled and 70% of the survivors who recover,the liklihood of suffering further strokes is greatly increased. "Recurrent" stroke accounts for around one in every four episodes of the life threatening condition.

Dr.Poonam's full statement on Stroke as follows-

The human brain is uniquely complex. The billions of neurons it contains provide the substance of reason and thought, while the functions it controls define our every move.

But when the brain is deprived of blood and the oxygen it carries, or when bleeding inundates surrounding tissue and causes the brain to swell, its effective operation becomes compromised. Both incidents can cause lasting vision problems, seizures, fatigue, loss of speech, memory loss, and paralysis among other adverse effects. If severe enough, they can also cause death.

To suffer such an event is to undergo a ‘brain stroke’, also known as a ‘brain attack’. It is an event and condition that too many of us know too little about, but which – for the most part – each one of us has the capacity to leaves

Some are more disposed to the problem than others. This includes people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes or a high blood-sugar level. It includes people that are obese, smoke or consume alcohol in large volumes. And it also includes people that are physically inactive. In addition, the risk of stroke increases with age, while males are more likely to suffer a stroke than females. Though demographic factors cannot be helped, there is much that can be done to reduce lifestyle-related risks.

First, people who smoke should quit, and those who drink heavily should cease. These two factors alone significantly multiply the likelihood of stroke, meaning avoiding them is vital to preventive efforts. Second, a diet high in vegetables and fruit and low in salt should be consumed. Doing so will decrease fatty deposits in the arteries that can cause blockages, as well as diminish the prospect of burst vessels that high blood pressure brings. Third, regular exercise should be undertaken. This means getting at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least five times a week. And fourth, blood pressure, blood-sugar and cholesterol levels should be checked regularly, with associated conditions managed in consultation with a health care provider.

As each of us adopts these simple but effective habits, which also help prevent against other noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, it remains important to be able to identify a stroke’s early warning signs. One of the reasons why people delay seeking immediate treatment is due to a lag in recognizing that a stroke is occurring.

There are three key questions and signs related to the face, arm and speech that can help to identify a stroke: Is the face drooping on one side? Is there weakness in one arm? Is the speech slurred? If the answer is yes to one or all of the above, the person may be having a stroke, meaning there is just one thing to do: get medical help, and get it fast.

Health systems must be in a position to act decisively to prevent stroke-related disability or death. National treatment protocols and guidelines should be robust and clear. Emergency referral systems should be well-honed and efficient. And health care staff should be given the skills to support emergency care and management and act in accordance with protocol. Though even the most advanced health systems are unable to provide cutting-edge technology at every facility, good health system planning can nonetheless maximize the reach and quality of services offered.

Importantly, as a means of diminishing the likelihood of a stroke occurring in the first place, treatment and counselling to manage stroke-related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension should be available at the primary health care level. Increasing access to these services will not only decrease the number of strokes occurring, but will also help limit other complications these underlying conditions can cause. With the recent adoption of the Colombo Declaration, which calls for a Region-wide primary health care approach to tackling noncommunicable diseases, commitment across the Region is encouraging.

In acknowledging the serious, life-threatening nature of stroke, the condition’s name – derived from an ancient Greek term meaning ‘struck down by violence’ – is perhaps more fatalistic than it needs to be. Through avoiding tobacco and alcohol, consuming a nutritious diet, getting regular exercise, and managing underlying conditions, most brain strokes can be prevented. And through knowing the symptoms, seeking immediate care, and having a well-prepared health system, most complications can be averted. To ensure this is the case, individuals and the health systems they rely on must adapt accordingly.