Heart beat: 7% to 20% of people do not survive a stroke
‘People do not bother going to the hospital as there is no awareness about the symptoms’.
KARACHI:
Nearly 400 people in the country die because of strokes everyday yet people, especially those in the media do not take it seriously, said Society of Neurology Pakistan Secretary and Aga Khan University Hospital Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Wasay.
“Since there is no awareness about the symptoms, people do not bother going to the hospital immediately.”
While speaking at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, Dr Wasay said that there was a need to create awareness especially since it affected nearly 350,000 people in Pakistan. “A stroke can be prevented and can be treated with proper medication,” he said. “It is our duty to protect people from them and to create awareness so that the government can take measures against it.” He added that a stroke could easily be avoided by exercising, controlling the intake of salt and not smoking. “The ratio of strokes in men is higher as compared to women,” he said.
Dr Abdul Malik from the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre said that everyday nearly 22 per cent of patients had a stroke and only seven to 20 per cent did not survive. He added that the Pakistan Stroke Society was organising an event on World Stroke Day to educate people. They also plan to hold two free stroke camps to check cholesterol and blood pressure.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2011.
Nearly 400 people in the country die because of strokes everyday yet people, especially those in the media do not take it seriously, said Society of Neurology Pakistan Secretary and Aga Khan University Hospital Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Wasay.
“Since there is no awareness about the symptoms, people do not bother going to the hospital immediately.”
While speaking at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, Dr Wasay said that there was a need to create awareness especially since it affected nearly 350,000 people in Pakistan. “A stroke can be prevented and can be treated with proper medication,” he said. “It is our duty to protect people from them and to create awareness so that the government can take measures against it.” He added that a stroke could easily be avoided by exercising, controlling the intake of salt and not smoking. “The ratio of strokes in men is higher as compared to women,” he said.
Dr Abdul Malik from the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre said that everyday nearly 22 per cent of patients had a stroke and only seven to 20 per cent did not survive. He added that the Pakistan Stroke Society was organising an event on World Stroke Day to educate people. They also plan to hold two free stroke camps to check cholesterol and blood pressure.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2011.