The Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Dr. Fazıl Küçük Faculty of Medicine continues to inform the public about community health. Most recently, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amber Eker Bakkaloğlu from the Department of Neurology released a statement on World Stroke Day which falls on the 29th of October each year.
“Don’t Be The One!”
Indicating that strokes are an important public health problem, the leading cause of disability worldwide and the second leading cause of death, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bakkaloğlu stated: “It is estimated that this year 14.5 million people will have a stroke and 5.5 million people will lose their lives as a result of having a stroke. 80 million people have survived strokes worldwide. Many stroke survivors face significant challenges that include physical disability and communication difficulties which may cause the loss of work and social networks. This year’s slogan of the World Stroke Organization is “Don’t Be the One”. This slogan emphasizes an important issue; strokes are preventable.”
What are the Risk Factors?
“Strokes occur when the supply of the blood to the brain is either interrupted or reduced.
Common risk factors for stroke are hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart diseases, diabetes, smoking, immobility and obesity like vascular risk factors. All these risk factors are manageable factors. It’s known that, up to 90% of strokes can be prevented by controlling these risk factors. Our first aim is to be protected from this devastating disease, then to increase awareness about the stroke symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis. An acronym F.A.S.T. (Acute Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, Time to call) may help you to recognize strokes and act quickly. Early admission to hospitals is important in the reversal of symptoms.
