Pictures by Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency.
Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: A special awareness program was organized by Manipal Hospitals, EM Bypass and Mukundapur on the occasion of World Stroke Day. The main objective of this initiative was to make people aware about the importance of stroke prevention, early recognition of its symptoms and timely initiation of treatment. People were informed about the risks of stroke, its symptoms and the need to consult a doctor without delay, so as to reduce the risk of long-term physical problems and disability. Dr. Jayant Roy, Director and Head, Department of Neurology, Manipal Hospitals Mukundapur; Dr. Amlan Mandal, Senior Consultant, Department of Neurology, Manipal Hospitals Mukundapur; Dr. Sukkalyan Purkayastha, Director and Senior Consultant, Department of Neurointervention and Endovascular Surgery, Manipal Hospitals, East Region, and Dr. Nirmalya Roy, Consultant, Department of Neuroradiology, Manipal Hospitals EM Bypass. The program highlighted the dangers of stroke, ways to recognize its symptoms, and the importance of starting treatment quickly.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a stroke can occur when blood flow to any part of the brain stops or a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. As a result, oxygen and essential nutrients cannot reach the brain cells. This can lead to brain damage, physical disability, and even death. Stroke is a medical emergency, where rapid examination and treatment are very important. The program specifically discussed the ‘BE FAST’ method to quickly recognize the symptoms of stroke. This method mentions six important symptoms of stroke. B means Balance (balance)—sudden loss of body balance, dizziness, or difficulty walking. E means Eyes—Sudden blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision. F means Face—Swelling or numbness on one side of the face. A means Arms—Sudden weakness or numbness in one arm. S means Speech—Slurred speech, difficulty speaking, or trouble understanding what others are saying. T means Time—If any of these symptoms occur, seek emergency medical attention without delay and remember when the symptoms began. If any of these symptoms occur, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
The event also highlighted the issue of transient ischemic attack (TIA), or temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain. It is sometimes called an early warning sign of stroke. A TIA can cause sudden weakness in a part of the body, difficulty speaking, or vision problems, just like a stroke. However, these symptoms may go away within a few minutes. But the danger does not end when the symptoms resolve. The risk of stroke may be higher in the hours and days following a TIA. Therefore, if stroke-like symptoms occur, even if they resolve before reaching a medical center, emergency treatment is necessary.
Speaking about the importance of recognizing the symptoms of stroke quickly, Dr. Jayant Roy said, “Stroke is a medical emergency where every minute counts. Someone can suddenly suffer a stroke while working, driving, or even during their daily activities. Sometimes symptoms like sudden vision problems, difficulty in maintaining balance, or weakness on one side of the body may appear. It is very important to recognize these symptoms quickly. Because delaying treatment can cause further damage to the brain and reduce the chances of recovery. By getting to the doctor quickly, it is possible to understand the patient’s condition and start the right treatment, which can increase the chances of a good recovery.”
Highlighting the need for awareness about the risk of stroke among young people, Dr. Amlan Mandal said, “Many people think that strokes mainly happen to the elderly. But younger people can also have strokes. Young people often do not pay attention to the early signs of stroke. They may ignore symptoms such as sudden vision problems, weakness, or difficulty speaking, thinking them to be temporary problems. Therefore, it is important to remember that the risk of stroke cannot be ruled out just because of young age. It is important to be aware of the signs of stroke at all ages, get regular health check-ups, and seek medical advice if necessary. It is possible to reduce the preventable risk of this disease by instilling healthy lifestyle habits from a young age and making people aware of the importance of seeking prompt treatment if stroke symptoms appear.”
Regarding regular health check-ups and controlling risk factors to prevent stroke, Dr. Sukkalyan Purkayastha said, “Many of the risks of stroke can be controlled through timely diagnosis, proper treatment, and necessary lifestyle changes. It is important to get regular check-ups if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels. Factors such as smoking, lack of physical activity, being overweight, and having trouble breathing during sleep can also increase the risk of stroke. Therefore, it is necessary to develop habits such as maintaining weight control, eating a balanced diet including fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and taking medications as prescribed by your doctor.”
Dr. Nirmaly Roy said about the importance of starting treatment on time and diagnosing the disease correctly, “The symptoms of stroke can appear suddenly. Delaying treatment thinking that it will get better on its own can lead to serious problems. ‘Time is brain’ means that when blood flow to the brain stops, brain cells start getting damaged very quickly. In case of a major ischemic stroke, about 20 million brain cells can be lost every minute. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are very important. At the same time, it is necessary to be aware of the symptoms of TIA. In this case, stroke-like symptoms can resolve in a short time. But even if the patient feels completely healthy, it is important to see a doctor quickly, because this may indicate the risk of stroke in the future. It is necessary to contact the medical team as soon as possible to assess the patient’s condition and determine the right treatment.”
The event highlighted the importance of reducing the risk of stroke by having regular health check-ups, a balanced diet, physical exercise, and controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, and blood cholesterol levels. In addition, the ‘BE FAST’ approach is advised to quickly recognize symptoms such as sudden changes in balance or vision, drooping of the face, weakness in the hands and difficulty speaking. The need for prompt treatment is emphasized if these symptoms occur, even if they resolve within a few moments. Through this initiative to increase awareness about stroke prevention and timely treatment, Manipal Hospitals reminds that stroke can occur at any age. Therefore, early treatment plays a vital role in reducing the risk of long-term disability and increasing the chances of recovery of the patient.