India records 1.5-2 million brain stroke cases every year: Dr Vineet Saggar
Yamunanagar, October 18: To create awareness on brain stroke and latest treatment options, a team of doctors from LIVASA Hospital Mohali addressed the media here on Friday. Present on the occasion were Dr Vineet Saggar director neurosurgery & neurointerventional & Pardeep Kumar Sharma consultant neurology from LIVASA Hospital Mohali.
Dr Vineet Saggar said, “Stroke is emerging as the new epidemic worldwide with 1.5 to 2 million new stroke cases being reported across India every year.
“The actual numbers are bound to be higher, as many of these patients never reach health care facilities. Everyday around 3000-4000 strokes happen in India and not more than 2-3% are treated,”
Worldwide incidence rate of stroke in 60-100 cases per 100,000 population per year, whereas in India it is close to 145-145 cases per 100,000/year. India accounts for 60 % of all stroke patients globally, he informed.
Dr Saggar further said that the reason for increased incidence in India is lack of awareness about the disease per se and the methods of prevention. Stokes are responsible for more deaths annually than those attributed to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined and yet it remains a silent epidemic.
Dr Pradeep Sharma said that stroke two types are ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke means that the blood supply to a portion of the brain is cut off due to a clot with resulting brain damage. It is like a heart attack where blood supply to a part of the heart is blocked and that’s why it is also called brain attack. The other type is hemorrhagic in which there is bleeding in the brain.
LIVASA Hospitals, which are now running the largest stroke ready hospital chain in entire Punjab, also launched a stroke helpline number 9988823456 during the occasion.
Dr Vineet Saggar also shared that now because of a new technique mechanical thrombectomy, which is available now in LIVASA Hospital Mohali, these patients can be treated in selected cases till 24 hours. In this technique the clot is either aspirated or taken out of the brain with the help of a stent without opening the brain.
He also shared that LIVASA Hospital has performed more than 500 successful neuro interventions.
Recently the American Stroke Association has also modified its guidelines and has recommended mechanical thrombectomy treatment for stroke patients. Thus, it is very important to be aware of the hospitals which can offer these treatments. Merely reaching the hospitals is not enough, one needs to reach a stroke ready hospital, he maintained.
Dr Pradeep Sharma said, “The important thing about stroke is that time is of essence. Every minute following a stroke, 1.90 million brain cells die. So, patients should be rushed at the earliest to the nearest treatment center. For a hospital to have comprehensive stroke care, a multidisciplinary team of emergency physicians, neurologists, interventional neuro-radiologists, neurosurgeons, anesthetists and critical care physicians is a must. “
Tips to prevent brain strokes:
1. Maintain blood pressure
2. Maintain optimum weight
3. Exercise more
4. Drink alcohol in moderation
5. Take a baby aspirin
6. Maintain diabetes
7. Quit smoking
8. Be Aware about stroke
9. Maintain healthy BMI and hips to waist ratio
