World Stroke Day 2017: What is Your Reason for Preventing Stroke?

Highlights:

• The World Stroke Day 2017 encourages individuals to answer the question: What is your Reason for Preventing Stroke?
• Prevention and early treatment of stroke can reduce the disability and mortality caused by stroke
• Rehabilitation of affected individuals can reduce the disability and improve productivity.

The World Stroke Day 2017, established by the World Stroke Organization, is observed on 29^th October, 2017. This year, individuals are urged to find the answer to the question: What is your Reason for Preventing Stroke? A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. Since the brain requires a continuous supply of oxygen and glucose, a cut in the blood supply results in death of the particular part of the brain. A stroke could occur due to a block in an artery supplying to a part of the brain, or a bleed in the brain, which often occurs due to extremely high blood pressure or a weak blood vessel.

A stroke can have devastating effects on the affected individual, as well as, on the entire family. The immediate impact is the high cost of the treatment, which can be a huge burden on the family coming along with the emotional turbulence caused due to the possibility of losing the loved one. The prolonged recovery time can be physically and mentally draining for the patient. The financial status of the family can also get affected if the individual was the only earning member of the family. The family has to arrange for alternate jobs, as well as, take care of the patient full time.

Awareness about stroke, its impact, treatment and recovery process are extremely important so that people can take adequate measures to prevent and treat it immediately to reduce disability. Some facts about stroke are as follows:

A stroke is a common cause of disability and death all over the world. A stroke can affect individuals at any age. Statistics indicate that one in six people in the world will suffer from stroke in their lifetime, which can cause a huge burden on the global economy. Stroke also causes death; out of around the 15 million people who suffer from stroke globally every year, 6 million people succumb to it.

Early recognition of stroke symptoms is associated with better outcomes. A stroke is an emergency; individuals should receive specialized care, as soon as possible, so that the damage to the brain is minimal. Early treatment promotes better recovery and minimal disability. People are taught to remember the acronym FAST (F-face drooping, A – arm weakness, S – speech difficulty, T-time to call emergency services) to recognize and act immediately. Unfortunately, many people either cannot afford or do not have access to treatment, and therefore cannot recover completely.

After the initial treatment, the rehabilitation process which includes regular physiotherapy is a critical part of the treatment process and should not be ignored. Rehabilitation helps the patient to regain as much independence as possible. Occupational therapy can also help to improve the productivity of the person. Psychological help may also be needed during the recovery process to help the patient deal with depression or other psychological issues that may arise due to the disability.

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Even after recovery, treatment with medications should continue on a regular basis because one in four survivors will suffer from another stroke.

The World Stroke Campaign aims to reduce death, disability and the impact of stroke through better prevention, treatment and support for patients with stroke. This World Stroke Day, the World Stroke Organization urges individuals to find the answer to the question: What is your Reason for Preventing Stroke? It could be to prevent being disabled yourself or making sure that your family does not suffer from you being disabled. Once you find your answer, it will encourage you to introduce modifications in your life and in your family that can help you to prevent stroke.

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As for several other cardiovascular diseases, stroke is a consequence of modern lifestyle. Stroke is preventable - simple measures like a healthy diet low in saturated fats, regular exercise which could be as simple as brisk walking for 20-30 minutes five times a week, smoking cessation, and reducing alcohol intake and stress play a major role in preventing stroke. Underlying conditions like obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension should be treated.

Reference:

1. World Stroke Day Events 2017 - (http://www.worldstrokecampaign.org/)

Source-Medindia