‘Mission Brain Attack’, a nation-wide campaign, focussed on end- to- end care for strokes that was recently launched by the Indian Stroke Association (ISA) in Varanasi, received an overwhelming response in Pune. It begins with addressing prevention and moves on to acute management and rehabilitation. Global statistics reveal that one among every four individuals may suffer from stroke.
Addressing the press conference, Dr Nirmal Surya, President, ISA, opined, “There are three major reasons that cause stroke- blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol. If your elders have suffered from a stroke and you also have blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol, then you need to be cautious. In such cases, it is advisable to keep your weight low, control cholesterol and quit alcohol and tobacco.”
He further added, “Current statistics reveal that on an average three individuals are suffering from paralysis every minute. Paralysis is also the third biggest cause of death.”
Dr Arvind Sharma, Secretary, ISA, averred, “Mission Brain Attack is the only Pan- India campaign of its kind that addresses every aspect from stroke prevention, awareness, management, care, and rehabilitation. Pune has well and truly risen up to the occasion and embraced the campaign with great enthusiasm, zest and zeal.”
The aim of ‘Mission Brain Attack’ is to create awareness on brain stroke and provide end-to-end care on three fronts- Primary prevention which is to control risk factors, acute treatment including thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in golden hour, and so also to provide long term rehabilitation for those with disability.
The key revelations were the following
GOLDEN HOUR
4 Hours 30 mins, is the golden hour, within which a patient can be taken to the hospital to reverse the stroke
GENETICS
Although there is no direct link of genetics to a person getting stroke, family history of medical conditions will play a role
SIGNS
To identify all signs of stroke and rush the person immediately to hospital and the public awareness in this regard is very crucial
Some of the signs are:
B – Balance
E – vision loss
F – Facial deviation
A – Arm & Leg weakness
S – Speech disturbance
T – Time call 108 or Ambulance to reach to a Stroke Ready hospital (With CT scan availability)
