Jaipur: City-based health experts claimed that a lot of people are not aware about warning signs of stroke, which leads to delayed treatment. Experts pointed out that according to a study, a mere 6.2% of urban Indians are able to identify all three signs of a stroke, while 55% of Indians could only identify one of the signs. Poor awareness contributes to delayed arrival of patients at the hospital.“Not many people are aware about warning signs of stroke. There is a need for spreading awareness. Stroke is a kind of brain attack. Just like blockage in heart, there is blockage in brain, which interrupts blood flow in brain causing stroke,” said Dr RK Sureka, former professor (neurology), Sawai Man Singh Hospital.
He said that identifying warning signs of stroke becomes important as the patient of stroke should be rushed to hospital for treatment as soon as possible. “He should get a clot-busting medication within four to four-and-a-half hours, which is given intravenous. However, in case of stroke, first four hours are golden hours. If a patient does not get the medicine within four hours, the doctors administer the drug directly to a blockage through intra-artery. Besides, if he fails to get it, there is a method for removing the clot using catheter,” said Dr Sureka. Since stroke is a medical emergency, doctors pointed out that people should know its warning signs, as prevalence of diabetes and hypertension has also increased.
Dr Ravinder Singh Rao, Consultant Cardiologist of a private hospital said, “When people suffer a stroke, they are unable to help themselves at that moment. Unfortunately, many of us are completely unaware of how to render help to a patient at such a time. Everyone must therefore be aware of the signs of a stroke, in order to identify patients and help them get the immediate medical attention they need. Recovery takes time, effort and adjustment by the patient and caregivers, but with the right kind of support, patients can continue to live a fulfilling life.”