Stroke is becoming the second leading cause of death in India and a disease which leaves many survivors disabled or bedridden, and every year nearly 3000 people are affected by strokes in Kochi, a Chief Nurologist of a private hospital said in Kochi on Saturday.
Speaking to newspersons, Dr Bobby Varkey Maramattom, Head, Interventional Neurology, Lourdes Hospital, Kochi, said that his hospital has installed the first 'digital biplane flat panel angiography suite', said to be first in South East Asia, to treat these diseases on an emergency basis.
A dedicated neuro catheterization lab with an acute stroke department has been started to treat all types of strokes at the hospital, he said.
Bloodless and pin hole painless interventions are available at a cost efffective basis for acute stroke due to blocks or ruptures of blood vessel in brain, at the hospital.
The equipment, which was imported from Germany costs Rs four crore, he said.
About 10 to 15 per cent in the age-group of below 40 years are affected by the disease, he said.
The warning signs of stroke are sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms or leg, specially on one side of the body, sudden visual loss in one or both eyes, sudden trouble in walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, sudden severe headache with no known cause and sudden loss of consciousness, he said.
{{/usCountry}}The warning signs of stroke are sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms or leg, specially on one side of the body, sudden visual loss in one or both eyes, sudden trouble in walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, sudden severe headache with no known cause and sudden loss of consciousness, he said.
{{/usCountry}}'If somebody is having an acute stroke due to a block, the patient has to reach the hospital at least within 5 hours for the clot to be broken successfully.'