| Alchemist Hospital launches Stroke Clinic |
| Panchkula, August 26: Panchkula based Alchemist Hospital has launched an integrated stroke clinic today to meet the growing emergencies involving brain stroke. Addressing the media, Mr. Avinash Ojha, CEO of Alchemist Hospital, said that brain stroke is the second leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the world that has necessitated us to set up this fully-equipped brain stroke clinic. The Hospital has set up the specialized service under the leadership of Dr. Monica Saini, a neurophysician who earlier served Lady Harding Medical College, New Delhi and PGIMER before completing clinical fellowship in stroke management from University of Alberta, Canada. Dr. Saini informed that the 24-hour brain stroke clinic, supported by a well-equipped ambulance and a Stroke Helpline has been made available to attend to any such emergency in the shortest possible time ,within the first few hours of brain stroke, to limit long term debilitating effects. She clarified that India’s annual rate of brain stroke incidence is 220 per lakh population and due to lack of awareness, only about ten percent return to their original active state, while approximately one third are left with significant disability requiring prolonged and expensive care, dependence and vocational impairment. Dr. Saini also said that those patients who are immediately removed to a stroke unit have much better chances of survival than those who don’t, with mortality rate being 8 percent only, compared to 40 percent otherwise. For comprehensive management of stroke patients, the Alchemist stroke clinic has specialists including a stroke specialist, neurologist, cardiologist and vascular surgeons. In order to rehabilitate brain stroke survivors, the clinic will also provide dedicated physiotherapy and speech therapy. Brain stroke usually goes undetected because very often people lack awareness about the symptoms of stroke. Weakness or numbness of face, arm or leg, motor imbalance, dizziness, severe headache, difficulty in speaking are the early warning signs of a stroke and should not be overlooked, she added. High BP, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cigarette smoking and drinking are potent risk factors for stroke. In addition, certain blood disorders, stressful life, sedentary lifestyle, family history of stroke and previous heart attack also act as predisposing factors. Early diagnosis of stroke and its causes can help to administer appropriate treatment, and minimize disability like paralysis, memory loss, impaired judgment and speech etc. Moreover, ascertaining the exact cause can help to prevent the onset of another stroke. How Can You Recognize a Stroke? Common Symptoms of Stroke are a sudden onset of: · Weakness or numbness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side · Problem in walking or balance, dizziness · Trouble seeing with one or both eyes · Inability to understand or trouble in speaking · Severe headache So if you or someone around is having such symptoms, ask these questions: · Is the balance off? · Is one side weak or numb? · Is the speech slurred or is the face drooping? · Is the vision partly or fully lost? · Is the headache the worst you ever had? If the answer to even one question is yes, call ALCHEMIST Helpline 9780887001, 9780887002, 45 00 000 Or send in your Stroke related queries to Dr. Monica Saini : sainimmm@gmail.com |