Alarming
increase in the number of stroke patients in Karachi
According to
medical experts, stroke is no longer limited to the elderly, but young people
are also falling victim to it, who are often unaware of diseases like blood
pressure or diabetes or are careless in taking medications.
Four months
ago, cases of brain aneurysms were not reported daily, but now patients with
brain hemorrhage are coming on a daily basis. If there are signs of weakness on
one side of the body, difficulty in speaking or slurring of speech, then this
can be an indication of early signs of stroke.
Dr. Imran
Sarwar, Emergency Incharge of Civil Hospital Karachi, expressed these views in
a conversation with Express News. He said that three to four months ago, only 2
to 3 stroke patients used to come to the emergency room every day, but now this
number has reached 8 to 10 daily, while sometimes 15 patients are being brought
in a day.
According to
Dr. Imran, earlier the type of stroke was mostly seen in which the arteries of
the brain were blocked, but now cases of cerebral hemorrhage have also started
coming, which were not possible before.
He said that
if the patient reaches a quality hospital like Aga Khan University Hospital,
National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) or Civil Hospital within
three to four and a half hours of the stroke, then the effect of the stroke can
be reversed by giving specific medicines and injections.
But patients
who come after four and a half hours can only be treated symptomatically. We
report one to two deaths in three days.
He said that
it is dangerous to suddenly lower the blood pressure of stroke patients because
the blood flow is already affected. If we normalize the blood pressure quickly,
the brain can be further damaged, so we control the BP gradually.
Dr. Imran
urged the public to avoid sprinkling table salt on food, eating too much salty
food, and leading a sedentary lifestyle. A simple daily walk and exercise can
protect more than half of patients from stroke.
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