World stroke day: Mumbai doctors explain about sudden weakness, stroke warning signs and speech trouble

Speed took centre stage at a press conference held to mark World Stroke Day today October 29 While timely treatment results in better outcomes in most ailments it is of absolute essence in stroke cases said top doctors at the conference at Gleneagles Hospital in Parel on Wednesday afternoonpopcorn numberOct 29 descWorld Stroke Day classDefaultSwift actionThe medical team addressing a packed auditorium on the third floor reinforced ldquoStroke is a medical emergency in which every minute matters We do see strokes in younger persons and even at times babies It is from womb to tombrdquo said the doctors though stating that it is more common as we ageThe medical team with smiling survivors PicBy Special ArrangementThey added ldquoTimely diagnosis specialised stroke care and rehabilitation can help save lives but most importantly reduce longterm disabilityrdquo If treatment is started within 4 to 45 hours of a stroke it will bring good results Even treatment within 24 hours can be beneficial it was saidTimely careDr Shirish Hastak said ldquoToday is World Stroke Day but I would be happier if it is called Understanding or Preventing Stroke Dayrdquo The Regional Director Neurology Stroke amp Neurocritical Care at the hospital pointed to a stroke survivor Dr PhD Krishna Naik who recognised that a sudden onset of symptoms could indicate a stroke and rushed to the hospital in time allowing his treatment to begin very earlyOn arrival at the hospital Code Stroke was activated and his brain MRI was done in 10 minutes He was later seen by Dr Hastak and his team and given the clotbusting drug in another 10 minutes He recovered his hand and leg power in half an hour Yesterday he was walking around at the conference smiling and shaking handsEarly actionDr Nitin Dange said ldquoStroke treatment is my passion Awareness is all If you even suspect something is wrong rush to a hospital Do not try all kinds of home treatmentrdquo cautioned the interventional neurologist and neurosurgeon The overarching message said Dr Pankaj Agarwal ldquois that stroke time brain Stroke is a devil with many facesrdquo added the Director of Neurology Stroke and Neurocritical Care at the hospitalSurvival storiesSeveral stroke survivors Praveen Khatu Satish Nikam Dr PhD Krishna Naik and Tejal Bhatt spoke about their survival stories Khatu rushed to the hospital after his right arm started involuntarily pulling and moving on its own and his vision altered with him seeing different colours Naik said he recognised the signs when he felt slightly dizzy and his arm went weak at a Parel corner and he rushed to hospitalNikam said he was treated for an unruptured aneurysm and underwent carotid stenting in time Bhattrsquos husband Adit Bhatt said they literally flew on a wing and a prayer to Gleneagles Hospital in Parel from their home in Ghatkopar after his wife Tejal felt weakness in her left arm had no sensation and was feeling unwell Swift treatment led to good outcomes for all The survivors were feeling ldquofirst classrdquo One could say it is because they flew first class to the hospitalStay protectedDr Sangeeta Rawat consulting neurologist stressed the preventive aspect stating that a good balanced diet exercise quality and quantity of sleep controlling and monitoring blood pressure BP diabetes and cholesterol and saying no to tobacco use and smoking are important ldquoFor me it is about the question why should anybody get a strokerdquo asked RawatConsulting neurologist Dr Kushal Bhatia pointed out that ldquoa stroke does not just affect the patient but the familyrdquo while consulting neurologist Dr Mayur Gharat said ldquoThere are persons who suffer a lsquomini strokersquo with a sign or two which resolves within minutes Yet even that should not be dismissed and checking why that happened is vitalrdquoSpot signsThere is a stroke acronym called BE FAST which by its very name tells you the importance of alacrity It also stands for certain signs and symptoms that may indicate a strokeB for Balance Sudden loss of balance or coordinationE for Eyes Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyesF for Face Drooping or asymmetry on one side of the faceA for Arms Sudden arm weakness or weakness on one side of the bodyS for Speech Difficulty speaking finding words or expressing oneselfT for Time Call an ambulance immediately and reach the nearest strokeready centre