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.
