Two per cent of hospital admission and 20 per cent of neurological admission account for stroke patients in Tiruchi district, according to statistics maintained by the medical community here.
Iischemic stroke (clogging of blood vessels within) has been found to be much more at 69.69% compared to hemorrhagic stroke (rupture of vessels causing blood to leak into the brain) at 27.27%, M.A. Aleem, president, Tamil Nadu-Puducherry Association of Neurologists.
The association members have been sensitising patients to the causes and prevention methodologies over the last few days in connection with the observance of World Stroke Day on October 29.
Their main emphasis is on making life style changes for prevention. “Know your personal risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol. Be physically active and exercise regularly. Maintain a healthy diet high in fruit and vegetable and low in salt to stay in a healthy state and to keep blood pressure low. And avoid alcohol consumption and smoking,” said Dr. Aleem who is also former Vice-Principal and former Head, Department of Neurology, KAPV Government Medical College.
"Further, diet is one of the important factors for prevention of stroke, because we eat three times a day. Salt intake must not be more than five grams a day for an adult and much lesser for a child since it increases blood pressure and risk of stroke. Much of the salt we eat is in everyday foods such as bread, sauces, cheese and processed meat, as well as salt added at the table and during cooking”, Dr. Aleem cautioned.
