In order to enhance public awareness regarding stroke risk, Pakistan Stroke Society (PSS) is observing a "Stroke Awareness Week" from August 16 to 22 in collaboration with PharmEvo.
It was announced by Dr Mohammed Wasay of the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) and Dr M. Sarwar Siddiqui of the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) here on Monday.
People with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and arterial fibrillation (an abnormality of heart rhythm) are at increased stroke risk.
According to a national health survey, there may be up to one million stroke victims in Pakistan.
The awareness week includes educational and academic programmes for physicians and informative media platforms for the general public, culminating in a "Stroke Awareness Walk" at the Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum on Sunday (August 22).
Cricket legend Javed Miandad has agreed to be spokesperson for this effort and he will be adding his voice to promote a healthy lifestyle in order to minimise the burden of stroke in our society.
Dr Wasay said stroke is common throughout the world including Pakistan. Although stroke is a very serious disease - number one cause of physical handicap and number two cause of death world-wide - it is also preventable as well as treatable, he added.
The symptoms of stroke appear suddenly depending on the part of the brain that is affected. Stroke can produce difficulty with speech, vision, confusion or disorientation, or paralysis or numbness on one side of the body, he said, adding, in severe cases, patients are left crippled, unable to walk, speak or take care of themselves.
Dr Wasay said there are three main causes of stroke, the most common is blood clots arising from the heart and end up in the brain, blocking blood flow to a part of the brain which then ceases to function.
Another reason is narrowing of certain critical arteries, such as the carotid artery in the neck, which is prone to deposition of cholesterol and other fatty substances.
Finally, brain haemorrhage is caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure, which weakens arteries within the brain and causes them to rupture and damage the underlying brain tissue, he added.
Experts said several risk factors increase a person's chances of suffering a stroke.
These include high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, as well as cigarette smoking and other forms of tobacco abuse.
Strokes can be prevented by paying attention to these risks in the form of strict control of high blood pressure, diabetes, eating a proper and balanced diet, and avoiding tobacco use in any form.
Stroke is also a treatable disease and it is a medical emergency.
In some cases, stroke patients can benefit from a drug called t-PA (Alteplase) that, if given within three hours of stroke, can improve chances of recovery.
Stroke patients also undergo a series of diagnostic tests to try and find out why the stroke happened.
Depending on results of these tests, medications such as aspirin, clopidogrel (low-plat) or warfarin are prescribed to keep the blood thin and prevent formation of blood clots.
Medication for high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol are also prescribed as needed. Stroke patients can often make a good recovery.
Rehabilitation treatment (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy) is an important part of stroke care and helps the natural recovery process.
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