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.
04:50Thank you so much.
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