Launches TIA/Stroke prevention package and Code Stroke – a rapid action group to recognise and treat acute strokes
With better health care facilities, life expectancy is going up around the world. Life expectancy in India in 2012 was 66.21 years. The UN World Population Ageing Report 2013 states that the elderly population (>60yrs) in 1950 was 108 million as opposed to 554 million the same year and is likely to triple by 2050 to 1.6 billion. India is likely to have approximately 20-22 percent of this population. With an increase in life expectancy, age related disorders, viz cancer, heart disease, strokes and dementia are going to increase.
Globally, approximately 20 million individuals will suffer from a stroke each year and of these 5 million will not survive. In developing countries, strokes are the first leading cause of Disability, second leading cause of Dementia and third leading cause of Death. Thus in the coming years strokes will pose a tremendous socio-economic burden for the cost of therapy and rehabilitation.
29th October has been nominated as the World Stroke Day and on this occasion JHRC has announced a two pronged attack on Strokes with a TIA/Stroke prevention package and Code Stroke – a rapid action group to recognise and treat acute strokes.
This package is based on the principle of “Prevention is Better than Cure”. Transient Ischaemic Attacks as the name suggests are “little strokes” which are a prelude to a major stroke. Identifying them and then modifying the risk factors will prevent a major stroke. JHRC has prepared a package of tests which will identify the risk factors and treat patients before a major stroke occurs.
As a part of Code Stroke, a rapid response team from the departments of Neurology, Intensive Care, Neurosurgery, Neuro-radiology, Pathology and Anaesthesiology will evaluate, investigate and start the therapy of a patient with acute stroke with a minimum delay. The principle is Time is Brain and Time Lost is Brain Lost. This programme will go a long way in saving lives and also limb.
EH News Bureau – Mumbai