World Stroke Day: Doctors warn of increasing risk in Bangladesh

The number of patients suffering from stroke is rising throughout Bangladesh due to other widespread health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and unhealthy lifestyle, said Prof Dr Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, chief of Neurology Department at Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

He added that although stroke is not curable, a healthy lifestyle can minimize the risk.

Dr Hasanuzzaman made the comments on Tuesday while addressing a discussion jointly organized by the Neurology and Neurosurgery departments at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital to mark the World Stroke Day 2019.

This year's slogan for the event is - One in four is at risk of stroke, whoever you are. The organisers presented a keynote titled "Prevent stroke before it happens" at the programme and brought out a procession earlier in the day.

 "The statistics of patients admitted to the hospital amplify the link among hypertension, diabetes and stroke," said Dr Hasanuzzaman at the programme.

Meanwhile, Neurosurgery Department Chief of the hospital Dr SM Noman Khaled said, "There are basically two types of stroke - ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic strokes occurs when the arteries to our brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow.

"On the other hand, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs when blood from an artery begins bleeding into the brain. We need to focus on the rehabilitation of stroke patients, because the treatment takes a long time."

Vice-Principal of the Chittagong Medical College Prof Nasir Uddin Mahmud said, "Our Neurology Department has only one registrar. The physician shortage is acute compared to the rush of patients. This crisis is prevalent in every ward of the hospital."

Department heads, physicians and nurses of the hospital attended the event among many others.