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Lifestyle changes must to prevent stroke

50% patients in UAE are below 45 years; sedentary lifestyle, diet high in salts cited as reasons

Dubai: Fifty per cent of stroke patients in the UAE are below the age of 45, said doctors at the Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) smart clinic held every Thursday.

Photo courtesy: Corbis

Dr Suhail Al Rukn, stroke and neurology consultant and head of the stroke unit at Rashid Hospital, said: “Stroke awareness in the UAE is particularly important. Fifty per cent of the stroke patients in the UAE are below the age of 45 years, as compared to the global average, where 80 per cent of stroke patients are above the age of 65 years.

For the UAE, this is an alarming statistic and calls for urgent lifestyle changes and increase in awareness.”

He said the reason for this is sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, obesity, dependence on fatty foods and a diet high in salts.

“In the UAE, 18 to 20 per cent of the population is obese, 20 per cent of the population is diabetic. Moreover, high salt consumption is a major issue. The average amount of salt needed on a daily basis is 2 grams, however, the average amount of salt people in the UAE consume per day is 15 grams which is way above the required limit.”

Dr Rukn added that stroke is the third leading cause of death in the world and the main reason for adult disability.

According the latest data by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in upper–middle income countries, stroke is the leading cause of death, followed by cardiac diseases.

He said it is essential for people to be aware of risk factors, to conduct yearly health screenings. Those with one or more risk factors can opt for the stroke risk calculator test, which basically tabulates the likelihood of a person getting a stroke in the next 10 years.

He also said the risk factors include diabetes, obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, heart disease, previous stroke, alcohol, age: above 55 years.

Women and the risk

According to the Stroke Association, women who take even a low-estrogen birth control pill may be twice as likely to have a stroke than those who are not on the pill and the risk may increase if other risk factors are present. Also, women who take hormone replacement therapy may have a slightly increased stroke risk.

Dr Zaibunnisa Khan, Specialist registrar in the neurology department at Rashid Hospital said: “It is recommended that women be screened for high blood pressure before starting on the pill.

Users of oral contraceptives who have one or more additional risk factors for stroke — such as hypertension, or obesity should pursue treatment of those risk factors while on the pill.

“Women on oral contraceptive pills, should be well-hydrated, they are also more prone to weight gain, therefore they should exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet to avoid the risk of stroke.”

Dr Rukn said the most important factor in minimising the disability caused by a stroke is immediate medical attention.

“The thing about strokes is that it occurs suddenly and the damage takes place very quickly, the longer it takes a person to get medical assistance, the more the brain damage. An adult brain has a total of five to six billion brain cells, when a stroke occurs, brain cells start to die. It has been estimated that 1.9 million brain cells die per minute in a stroke case. Therefore, the level of disability can be quite severe as the effects of a stroke on the body are immediate.”

He said the first four and a half hours after the person gets a stroke are most crucial for doctors to minimise the damage to the brain and thus getting to a hospital on time is crucial. Ideally, the patient should be taken to the hospital as soon as the symptoms are recognised, within the first three hours.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com