World Stroke Day observed at the Karachi Press Club

Karachi: Renowned neurologist and President Pakistan Society of Neurology, Dr Muhammad Wasay Shakir said that stroke has take epidemic turn in Pakistan and approximately 1,000 people experience stroke attack on daily basis across the country out of which 400 do not survive.

He expressed these views while addressing a seminar in connection with the World Stroke Day 2014 at Karachi Press Club. The seminar and health screening camp were organized by the Health committee of KPC and Pakistan Stroke Society in collaboration with a local pharmaceutical company.

The World Stroke Day is observed on the 29th of October globally, and experts in the field highlight the dangers of condition, factors causing it, and healthy lifestyle practices for people who wish to prevent themselves from the paralyzing disease.

Dr Wasey said the ratio of stroke prevalence is more common in women in our country as compared to men, and there is a need to create awareness amongst women regarding the disease. He said stroke is preventable through precautionary measures. He also said that 70% of all stroke cases were being reported from developing countries due to unhealthy lifestyle practices.

He stated that unhealthy lifestyle, lack of regular exercise, excessive intake of table salt and diabetes were some of the major causatives of stroke. He further added that smoking in men especially was another root cause of many cardiac problems.

Prof Wasay said hypertension or high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels in addition to obesity are indicators that make an individual susceptible to heart disease.

He advised people to adopt simple precautionary measures such as regular exercise, refraining from smoking & tobacco chewing, and reducing salt intake in order to keep stroke and other heart diseases at bay.

At the health camp, working journalists and their family members were provided facilities of free health screening including blood pressure, blood sugar level and cholesterol level checkups by experts.

Secretary Karachi Press Club Amir Latif welcomed Dr Wasey Shakir, Secretary Health Committee Hamid ur Rehman other health experts at the club and said KPC would continue to organize such awareness programs in future as well.