October 2022 Full PDF final

HEALTH
HEALTH
WHY IS STROKE
RISING AMONG
YOUNG ADULTS
IN BANGLADESH?
Stroke in young population
Most of the young people don't think that they could ever have a stroke. In fact, there is no such factor as
being too young to have one. Although the risk of stroke increases with age, young adults, infants, children,
and adolescents can nevertheless get faced with stroke. In fact, a study published in Journal Stroke found
that between 10 and 15 percent of strokes occur in adults between the ages of 18 and 50. Most experts agree
that under 45 is young age to suffer stroke. Younger patients often experience various types of strokes than
the older patients do.
COVID 19 AND STROKE: Younger adults seem to be suffering more from stroke with previous Covid-19 cases.
While the specific link is still unclear, it appears to be related to the virus that is spreading inflammation
throughout the body. This includes the walls of blood vessels, which can get inflamed and cause blood cells
to stick together and form clots.
-DR. MD NAZMUL ALAM
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
KUMUDINI WOMEN'S MEDICAL COLLEGE
In Bangladesh, stroke ranks second among the non-communicable diseases in terms of both long-term
disability and death causes. As it affects people of all ages, young adults are also affected by this deadly
ailment. In fact, the risk of stroke has considerably increased among the young generation. Furthermore,
rising stroke cases among Covid-19 patients have been reported in recent times. Indeed, stroke is the most
widespread non-communicable disease both globally and in Southeast Asia.
Stroke as deadly disease
Stroke, sometimes called a ‘brain attack,’ takes place when something blocks blood flow to
part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. It can either be ischemic or hemorrhagic.
The largest rise is being observed in ischemic strokes, which are caused by blood clots
that enter the brain and clog arteries. It is the most prevalent kind of stroke. A rather less frequently
occurring type is hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a blood artery in or near the
brain bursts.
What causes stroke in younger people?
The risk of stroke is 50% higher when high blood pressure in human body stays
uncontrolled. Junk food, contaminated item, and high carbohydrate intake can
trigger the disease. Younger persons are more likely to have certain risk factors
for stroke than older adults – especially because of smoking, excessive alcohol
use, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease, increased blood pressure,
and high cholesterol. However, unhealthy lifestyle choices are not the only factor
in young people’s stroke proneness. Strokes can occur before the age of 45, too,
for a variety of reasons including those that are inherited.
Combatting stroke
“Stroke is globally the leading cause of disability affecting families economically,
particularly in countries like Bangladesh,” said Prof Dr Raziul Haque, Department
of Neurosurgery, DMCH. The number of strokes in Bangladesh can be reduced by
a lot if all hospitals have basic stroke treatment facilities. This is because strokes
can be cured if they are treated within four hours of the first symptoms.
SYMPTOMS OF
STROKE
Unexpected
numbness or
weakness on one
side of the body,
face, arm, or leg
Sudden difficulty
speaking or
understanding
speech, sudden
disorientation
An unexpected
problem with
one or both eyes'
vision
Rising trend in Bangladesh
Stroke cases in Bangladesh increased four times in last 10 years with 11.39 stroke cases reported
per 1,000 persons in 2021. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 1,18,918 stroke-related
deaths in Bangladesh in 2018 alone, which accounted for 15.31% of all deaths and placed
the nation 41st worldwide in terms of age-adjusted death rates. The Bangladesh Bureau of
Statistics (BBS) reported 85,360 stroke-related deaths in 2020, which remained nearly twice
as many as the 45,502 deaths the disease caused in 2019.
The Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) conducted a stroke awareness campaign in 2021.
The information garnered from there reveals that the DMCH treats 50 stroke patients every
day – thereby making it the center of stroke care. At any given time, the hospital is home to
about 600 stroke patients. About 20% of the surgeries done at the DMCH each year are related
to stroke.
B
BALANCE
LOSS OF BALANCE,
HEADACHE OR
DIZZINESS
E
EYES
BLURRED
VISION
SPOT A STROKE
LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS AND ACT FAST
F
FACE
ONE SIDE OF THE
FACE IS DROPPING
A
ARM
ARM OR LEG
WEAKNESS
S
SPEECH
SPEECH
DIFFICULTY
?
T
TIME
TIME TO CALL
FOR AMBULANCE
IMMEDIATELY
CALLING
SOS
An unusual
inability to walk,
dizziness, losing
one's balance,
or showing poor
coordination
Severe
headache
without
cause
64 PRESS XPRESS OCTOBER 2022 OCTOBER 2022 PRESS XPRESS 65