World Stroke Day: Minutes Can Save Life!

Brain stroke is the second leading cause of death and disability globally. Every year over six lakh Indians succumb to stroke, while, as many as 16 lakh people suffer from the life threatening neurological condition.

45% of the suffered population live with serious impairments.

Current trends have suggested that the number of annual deaths will climb to 6.7 million worldwide. In order to prevent and make people aware on the serious nature of both short term and long term effects of stroke, and reduce the burden of stroke, every October 29 is observed as World Stroke Day.

Established by World Stroke Organization (WSO), the awareness day has created a global platform for the stroke community to increase awareness and drive action on stroke around the world. It has become a medium of support for both patients and their caregivers.

In Assam alone, a lakh people suffer from different types of stroke. Stroke is a condition where the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, resulting in oxygen starvation, brain damage and loss of function.

It is most frequently caused by a clot in an artery supplying blood to the brain, a situation known as ischemia. It can also be caused by hemorrhage when a burst vessel causes blood to leak into the brain. Stroke can cause permanent damage, including partial paralysis and impairment in speech, comprehension and memory. The extent and location of the damage determines the severity of the stroke, which can range from minimal to catastrophic.

Recognising the early signs of stroke and acting immediately can save lives and avoid long-term complications. Prompt treatment in the "golden hour" i.e. the first sixty minutes can increase one's chances of survival and minimise brain damage.

During each minute 2 million cells die. In a way during stroke the patient keep losing a part of oneself with each passing minute

Doctors encourage the people to identify the red flags of stroke, which is as simple as remembering the four-letter word FAST: F Facial Dropping; A-Arm Weakness; S Speech Difficulty; T Timely Reach Hospital (within 4.5 hours of onset of symptoms).

But the concern remains, how widespread is the messaging of the preventive measures on this global awareness day?Do people across different demography, geographies, and economic classes have access to the information? Who takes the onus and responsibility of sensitising a diverse population? The country still has a massive digital divide and how much do healthcare providers and professionals reach out to a population that has little access to information and immediate treatment of a fatal condition like stroke.

Good diet, a healthy lifestyle, and a stress free life helps people to avoid having a brain strokes or stroke induced by other life threatening conditions such as a cardiac arrest. But as we observe world stroke day, the need of the hour would be to reach out to people across diverse communities especially those who have the least access to treatment and information.