World Brain Day: Healthy Lifestyle and Awareness Key to Tackle Rising Stroke CasesWorld Brain Day: Healthy Lifestyle and Awareness Key to Tackle Rising Stroke Cases On World Brain Day, experts emphasize the urgent need for healthier lifestyles, with proper nutrition and exercise, coupled with increased awareness, to address the alarming rise in stroke and other related diseases in India. Rising Stroke Prevalence A worrisome trend is the increasing incidence of stroke among the young population, with a 25% surge in the last five years. This is primarily attributed to sedentary habits, poor diet, smoking, and urban lifestyle stressors. Hypertension and diabetes further exacerbate the risk. Neurological Disorders and Burden Neurological disorders comprise a wide spectrum of conditions, including strokes, headaches, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, these disorders account for 10% of the national disease burden, primarily driven by population aging. Prevention and Intervention Experts stress the importance of adopting healthier lifestyles to avoid these risks. Regular physical activity, effective stress management, and avoidance of smoking are crucial. Early detection and intervention are essential to combat the alarming increase and protect the health of the younger population. Impact of Aging and Neurodegeneration With advancing age, neurodegenerative changes occur in the brain due to reduced dopamine secretion. Additionally, chronic anxiety can contribute to neuroinflammation linked to Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis. Preventive Measures Neurologists recommend measures like avoiding head injuries, consuming a nutrient-rich diet, quitting smoking, engaging in stress-relieving activities such as meditation or exercise, and managing comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension. These steps can significantly prevent or slow the progression of debilitating neurological disorders. Stroke Situation in India India experiences approximately 185,000 strokes annually, resulting in a stroke every 40 seconds and a stroke-related death every 4 minutes. Despite these alarming figures, the country faces a shortage of stroke-ready hospitals and adequate infrastructure for effective treatment. Need for Improved Neurological Services Experts call for strengthened neurological services, including curative and individualised treatments tailored to each patient’s condition. Advanced technologies like advanced imaging, brain-machine interfaces, and deep brain stimulation offer new hope for patients with complex neurological disorders.
New Delhi, July 22 A healthy lifestyle, with right diet and exercise, coupled with greater awareness, is crucial to tackle the rising cases of stroke and other related diseases in the country, experts said on World Brain Day on Monday.
World Brain Day is celebrated every year on July 22 to raise awareness and shed light on crucial aspects of brain health. This year’s theme is ‘Brain Health and Prevention’.
Neurological disorders include strokes, headache disorders, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, brain and central nervous system cancers, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neuron diseases, and other neurological disorders.
“There is a worrying increase in strokes among the young population in India, with a 25 per cent increase in cases in the last five years. This increase is predominantly seen in people between the ages of 25 and 40. The factors contributing to the increase are mainly sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, smoking and high stress levels associated with urban living,” Dr Vikram Huded, HOD and Director & Clinical Lead, Interventional Neurology, Narayana Health, told IANS.
The doctor also pointed to the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes as increasing risks. In addition, genetic predisposition, even sleep disorders or undiagnosed heart conditions, high stress levels and environmental factors such as pollution also contribute significantly to this alarming increase.
“It is vital that young people adopt healthier lifestyles, engage in regular physical activity and manage stress effectively to avoid these risks. Early intervention and lifestyle changes are crucial to combat this alarming trend and protect the health of our younger population,” said Dr. Huded.
According to estimates by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), neurological disorders contribute 10 percent of the total disease burden in India. The growing burden in the country is mainly due to the ageing of the population.
“With increasing age, especially after 50 years, neurodegenerative changes occur in brain areas due to less dopamine secretion in the brain,” Dr AK Sahani, director and head of neurology at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in New Delhi, told IANS.
He noted that ‘chronic anxiety can lead to persistent neuroinflammation, which is linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease.
Dr Arindam Ghosh, consultant neurologist at Narayana Hospital in Kolkata, called for taking more “measures like avoiding head injuries, eating a balanced diet rich in nutrients and antioxidants, avoiding smoking, taking measures to relieve stress like meditation, exercise or walking and taking adequate care for comorbidities like diabetes, obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia”.
These simple measures can go a long way in preventing or slowing the progression of several debilitating neurological disorders, the doctor told IANS.
In India, approximately 185,000 strokes occur each year, which is one stroke every 40 seconds and one death from stroke every 4 minutes.
Despite these alarming figures, many Indian hospitals lack the infrastructure needed for effective stroke treatment or there is a lack of stroke-ready hospitals in the country. Neurologists stress the importance of people adopting healthier lifestyles to prevent strokes and other brain disorders.
“There is a need to strengthen neurological services and experts are calling for effective curative actions. Neurological treatments are highly individualised depending on the patient’s condition. Common therapeutic approaches include rehabilitation, assistive devices and self-care strategies,” Dr Rajul Aggarwal, director of neurology, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, Delhi, told IANS.
“Recent technological breakthroughs, such as advanced imaging techniques, brain-machine interfaces and deep brain stimulation, are transforming diagnosis and treatments and offering new hope for people suffering from complex neurological disorders,” he added.
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