Dr Shakir Hussain, Honorary Consultant Stroke Neurology and Interventional Neuroradiology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, has said that people of developing countries are at greater risk of suffering from stroke due to bad eating habits and unhealthy lifestyle. He stated this while delivering a lecture on 'Stroke and its Prevention' at GOR Mess here on Saturday.
The Punjab Food Minister, Chaudhry Mohammad Iqbal was the Chief Guest, while leading neurologists and neuroradiologists including Professor Dr Nasrullah, Dr Khurram, Dr Umair Rashid Chaudhry attended the function.
Dr Shakir, who is leading expert in Neuro Interventional, maintained that an estimated 600,000 people suffer Ischemic Stroke each year in the US, therefore developed countries are also facing problems linked with this disease.
'Strokes kill about 5 million people each year making this the second leading cause of death world-wide.
At least 15 millions others have non-fatal strokes annually, and about a third are disabled as a consequence', he pointed out.
According to him, non-modifiable risk factors for stroke include age, sex, family history, race and ethnicity. Modifiable risk factors for stroke are hypertension, cardiac disease (particularly atrial fibrillation), diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, physical inactivity, asymptomatic carotid stenosis, and transient Ischemic attack.
When stroke hits, time lost is brain lost. The faster we get help, the better off we are, he added. What is critical for people of all ages to recognise the warning signs and call help immediately upon experiencing any sign of al stroke, he said.
He said that people suffering from ailments like high blood pressure and glucose were at a greater risk of developing stroke. Modern lifestyle and diet in this region was also playing a major role in causing a stroke, he added.
He said that five major warning signs of stroke are: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg especially on one side of the body; confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; trouble seeing with one or both eyes; troubles walking, dizziness, loss of balance or co-ordination; and severe headache with no known cause.
He said stroke was similar to heart attack. It was caused by malfunction of the brain like heart attack. Both were caused by lack of blood supply.
To a query, he said many of the risk factors, including blood pressure, tobacco, diabetes, high cholesterol, excessive use of alcohol and physical inactivity could be eliminated or at least controlled through awareness. He, however said three risk factors age, a prior stroke and genes could not be controlled.