Shahd Alhamdan
Saudi Gazette
HELD in Dubai this month, the 2nd Stroke Academy meeting saw experts from the medical field discuss the causes and treatments, therapies and prevention methods for stroke.
The meeting was arranged by Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, and included two sessions where speakers addressed the overall approach to treating the disease from a cardiovascular and neurological point of view.
Age, hypertension and obesity are some of the causes that can lead to stroke, and in the Gulf region it is the No. 2 killer.
A lack of patient awareness as well as a delay by physicians in diagnosing the disease can lead to complications. Irregular heartbeats, or arrhythmia, can be one of the key causes leading to stroke.
The managing director at Boehringer Ingelheim Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META), Karim El Alaoui, said the meeting encouraged leaders and people to concentrate on finding the best solutions and practices to prevent strokes.
Board Member at the World Heart Federation Dr. Nooshin Bazaragani said one of the signs of a stroke is chest pain, yet most of the time those who suffer a stroke will not have any signs that they have a condition, so regular health checkups are vital.
“We are trying to prevent people from stroke and atrial fibrillation. People can help prevent fibrillation through several steps, including, a healthy lifestyle, and prevent themselves from getting obese,” she said.
Some suggestions for reducing the disease burden of stroke included creating more initiatives that focus on the disease and increasing the number of stroke centers so they become accessible to most people in urban areas.
As part of the meeting, Boehringer Ingelheim is working on an initiative focusing on spreading awareness about stroke and implementing a program to facilitate acute care in the Gulf region as well as other Arab countries, including Egypt.
Research showed that every year around 15 million people suffer from strokes globally, and around 6 million die from it while 5 million others live with a disability resulting from stroke.
Because of the increasing number of people suffering strokes every year, it is anticipated that by 2030 around 12 million people will die from it.
In 2015, around 60,000 people died from stroke in Saudi Arabia.
