22 August 2004	Sunday	05 Rajab 1425

KARACHI, Aug 21: Health experts at a seminar on Saturday stressed that control on blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and cholesterol could prevent stroke.

The seminar on "Stroke management in 21st century", was organized at a local hotel in connection with "Stroke Awareness Week" being observed by the Pakistan Stroke Society.

The Pakistan Stroke Society president, Dr Sardar Alam, said that stroke disease could attack people in any age group. It could even lead to death if not treated early, he said.

Referring to some myths that stroke disease was not treatable, he made it clear that almost 70 per cent of stroke patients could lead a normal life after early treatment.

He said, "It's best treatment is prevention, but, majority of physicians and public are not aware of this fact. Its primary prevention is to control blood pressure and sugar level while daily use of Aspirin on recommendation of doctor can be very helpful for patients. A smokers can prevent stroke risk for five years by giving it up now," he added.

Dr Alam said that the Stroke Society was making efforts to make a guideline for doctors in uniform treatment of stroke and expressed hope that it would be finalized in the next year.

Deliberating on future plans, the doctor said that awareness seminars would be conducted in other major cities and a national conference would also be held in Lahore in December. Moreover, an advisory panel had been constituted, which would work for doctors' education and research, he added.

He urged the government to assist doctors for creating awareness among the masses about stroke, as financial resources and manpower were very much needed for community research.

Speaking at the seminar, Dr Bojo Khaliany said that half of the country's population was suffering from blood pressure. The expert explained that on an average one in every five persons was a sugar patient and one in every eight was high cholesterol patient in the country.

Dr Sarwar Siddiqui of Civil Hospital Karachi said that stroke could be prevented by controlling its triggering agents and medicines were available for the very purpose.

Dr Mohammad Wasay of Aga Khan University Hospital said that early diagnosis was very important for the recovery of stroke patient. He was of the view that disability and deaths could be prevented to a great extent by giving proper and timely treatment.

Dr Rasheed Jooma of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Dr Ather Inam of Aga Khan University Hospital also delivered their presentations at the seminar. -PPI