Akangjungla
According to the Lancet Neurology, stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. The publication underlines that the burden of disability after a stroke is also large, and is increasing at a faster pace in low-income and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. Alarmingly, the incidence of stroke is increasing in young and middle-aged people (i.e., age <55 years) globally, it cautions. A global burden of stroke report published in the Lancet Neurology journal also shows that India is among countries in Asia, along with some in Africa, with the highest risk of stroke among the younger population. The report predicts that stroke could cause nearly 10 million deaths annually by 2050, mostly in low-middle income countries.
Professor Jeyaraj Pandian, President-Elect of World Stroke Organization, one of the lead authors of the Lancet Commission says, “Asia accounted for by far the greatest share of global stroke deaths in 2020 (61%, around 4.1 million deaths) and this is forecast to rise to around 69% by 2050 (around 6.6 million deaths).” The Professor also underlines the need to closely examine what is causing this increase, including the growing burden of uncontrolled risk factors -- especially high blood pressure, and lack of stroke prevention and care services in these regions.
So what is stroke? And what are the major risk factors of causing a stroke? In 1970, the World Health Organization defined stroke as “rapidly developed clinical signs of focal (or global) disturbance of cerebral function, lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death, with no apparent cause other than of vascular origin.” According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, ‘a stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain become damaged or die. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.’
The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke in its publication of Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Stroke (2019) reports, stroke, a major Non-Communicable Disease, is responsible for 3.5% of Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) in India. The programme also suggest that apart from risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases and positive family history, other lifestyle related factors such as unhealthy diet, obesity, lack of physical activity, stress and tobacco use account for occurrence of a stroke. The reduction of the global burden of stroke by creating awareness on preventive measures is a need of the hour. Every year October 29 is observed as World Stroke Day with the purpose to increase awareness and drive actions on stroke around the world. Leading from the World Health Organisation to independent academic medical researchers, high blood pressure has been identified as one of the main clinical risk factors for stroke. Other risk factors include tobacco use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet, use of alcohol, stress, and depression. Given the evidence of stroke rises, major efforts are required to creating awareness on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation to fight back this health issue.
Comments can be sent to akangjungla@gmail.com
