This special report on World Stroke Day focuses on the rising incidence of stroke among young people in India, featuring insights from India Today's Sneha Mordani and Dr. Nitin Kumar Sethi of PSRI Hospital, Delhi. Dr. Sethi states, 'the profile of the typical stroke patient is changing in India and I think part of that is because the Indian population, our lifestyle is changing.' The discussion highlights how Westernised diets, increased stress in corporate jobs, and the social acceptability of smoking and drinking are contributing to this health crisis. The segment also references Zerodha founder Nitin Kamath, who suffered a stroke, to underscore the importance of the 'golden hour'—the critical window for treatment. Experts stress that recognising early symptoms like facial drooping or speech difficulty and seeking immediate medical help can prevent lifelong disability, as stroke is now India's second leading cause of death.
00:00It is World Stroke Day today. Every year, 1.5 to 1.8 million Indians suffer a stroke,
00:07a number that makes it one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time.
00:12With an incidence of 130 to 170 strokes per 1 lakh people,
00:16stroke has become India's second leading cause of death and third leading cause of disability.
00:22I'm handing it over to my colleague Steha Mordani,
00:25who is in conversation with Dr. Nitin Kumar Sethi from Delhi's PSRI Hospital.
00:30Steha, over to you.
00:32All right. In fact, joining us right now is Dr. Nitin.
00:36Thank you so much for your time.
00:38I want to begin by asking you the concern that has been raised by many doctors like you
00:43about the very fact that this disease is now being seen in the younger population.
00:50You thought of something that was striking Indians and others around the age of 50, 55 or more
00:57is now being seen in younger people.
01:00So what really, doctor, is going on here?
01:04I agree. I think the profile of the typical stroke patient is changing in India.
01:09And I think part of that is because the Indian population, our lifestyle is changing.
01:14So, for example, the traditional risk factors for stroke are uncontrolled blood pressure.
01:20If your blood sugar is not controlled, if you have high cholesterol, if, for example, you're a smoker,
01:26you're chewing a lot of tobacco, if you're obese, lack of exercise, what is happening now is that while these factors still are the major risk factors for stroke,
01:40one thing which has changed is lifestyle.
01:44Our diet has changed.
01:45It's become a very westernized diet.
01:47Our stress levels have gone up a lot.
01:50The Indian population now, I feel young people, especially who are in the corporate setup,
01:57they are working under tremendous stress.
01:59Late nights, alcohol consumption has increased.
02:02Smoking has increased.
02:04I see a lot of young women smoking, which is not so common earlier on.
02:08So, as lifestyles are changing, social acceptability of, like, social drinking, smoking,
02:17I think those are a couple of the factors which are really leading to, like, a stroke epidemic in the Indian population.
02:23That's right.
02:23I agree.
02:24Smoking and drinking socially has become just so normal.
02:28And that, of course, you're indicating is the reason why so many younger people are suffering.
02:32You know, today, Nitin Kamath has put the spotlight on this.
02:34He himself had suffered from stroke.
02:37The founder of Zeroda last year was suffering.
02:40He says he's now realized the importance of the golden hour,
02:43the time period in which, you know, even if your symptoms die down, doctor,
02:48you should still, you know, rush to the hospital.
02:51So, for a couple of minutes, you may feel the symptoms, doctor,
02:54but then it dies down.
02:56But still, you shouldn't be brushing it under the carpet.
03:00Talk to us about the importance of the golden hour.
03:04That's very true.
03:05You know, we commonly say in neurology, when it comes to a stroke, time is brain.
03:10So, like you've likely said, nowadays in urban hospitals, urban cities like New Delhi,
03:18you know, you have the large hospitals have a stroke unit.
03:23So, if you reach a stroke unit in time, a hospital in time,
03:27there's a window period.
03:29It's called a golden hour.
03:30It's usually around three and a half to four and a half hours.
03:33Right.
03:33So, if you reach within that window period,
03:36sometimes you can give these drugs, which are clot-busting drugs,
03:41and if it's a ischemic stroke, you can lyse the clot, re-establish the blood flow,
03:46and you can prevent the disability.
03:48It's very important to understand, stroke is a very common cause of disability in the world.
03:52That's right.
03:53You have a stroke and you're left behind with right arm, right leg weakness.
03:57You cannot speak.
03:58Your balance is off.
03:59It's lifelong disability.
04:01So, it's very important that people realize that when it comes to stroke, time is brain.
04:08So, I always try to emphasize to everybody,
04:11try to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke early.
04:15Sudden onset of like weakness on one side of the face.
04:18Your face is drooping.
04:19Sudden onset of weakness in one arm, one leg.
04:22You have a difficulty speaking.
04:24Your loved one suddenly has a difficulty walking.
04:27Balance is off.
04:28It might be a stroke.
04:29Always err on the side of caution.
04:32Rush to the nearest large hospital, which preferably has a stroke unit.
04:40All right.
04:41I'm going to in fact thank you for joining in and sharing your views with us.
04:44This, of course, has got to do with the focus on stroke day today,
04:47a leading cause of death and disability in the country.
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