79% rise in brain stroke cases in state in 2024-25: Data

Bhubaneswar: Odisha reported 7,595 brain stroke cases in 2024-25, an increase of 79% from the 2023-24 figure of 4,252, according to govt data.Official sources from the health and family welfare department said 5,191 stroke cases were reported in the state this year between April and Sept.

“The current year’s data shows an upward trend too,” said a senior official.Dr Ashok Kumar Mallick, professor and head of the neurology department, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, said they annually treat 300-350 brain stroke patients. “We have been witnessing a rise in stroke patients year by year,” he added.He said changes in lifestyle and food habits, consumption of alcohol, smoking, irregular treatment of hypertension, family history of brain stroke, obesity, increase in cholesterol levels, lack of physical activity, and poor management of blood sugar are risk factors for brain stroke.

“We should manage all these risk factors to prevent stroke,” he added.Dr Mallick futher said, “After suffering a stroke, kin of the patient should take him/her to a tertiary care facility or hospitals having experts in neurology or medicine departments. The first four and a half hours after the stroke is the golden period. If the patient gets treatment in this important period, there is a chance of better recovery,” he added.

He added, “We are witnessing more stroke cases after Covid-19 pandemic. There is a change in blood vessels. We are getting stroke cases among youths now. Previously, we were getting such cases mostly among elderly people.”Dr Sanjeev Kumar Bhoi, professor and head of the neurology department, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, said high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity and heart disease are major risk factors for brain stroke.

“Overall stroke incidents are increasing year by year. Youths are getting the disease, which is a new trend,” he added.He said stroke happens either due to blockage of an artery or haemorrhage. “I have seen many cases of haemorrhage in an artery among people due to high blood pressure. People should take initiatives to manage high blood pressure,” he added.He said people do not get enough hints or symptoms of brain stroke before one suffers from it. “Patients feel weakness or headache as symptoms initially. But people don’t take it seriously because they think these are common symptoms. I advise people to go to the hospital if they get facial paralysis, unbearable headache, weakness in the hands, or imbalance while walking,” he added.Dr Bhoi said stroke treatment facilities should be made available at district and sub-divisional levels for immediate treatment within the golden period.