Assoc. Prof. Dr. Recep Baydemir: Stroke can be prevented and treated

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Recep Baydemir reported in a statement within the scope of October 29 World Stroke Day that stroke ranks 3rd among causes of death worldwide and first among disabling diseases.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Recep Baydemir stated that approximately 17 million people suffer a stroke worldwide every year and 6 million of them lose their lives. Conveying that 1 person has a stroke every 2 seconds and 1 person dies from a stroke every 6 seconds, Baydemir noted that symptoms of stroke include sudden unilateral weakness or numbness in the arms and legs, speech difficulty and disorders, facial asymmetry, double vision, imbalance, and changes in the level of consciousness.

Emphasizing that blood pressure control, preventing smoking, healthy nutrition, physical activity, exercise, and taking medications upon doctor's recommendation are primary methods to reduce stroke risk, Baydemir stated that a healthcare institution must be applied to immediately due to the sudden onset of the condition and the need for rapid treatment.

Stating that the earlier the treatment process is started, the higher the chance of recovery, Baydemir conveyed that stroke has become a treatable condition with new methods developed in the last 20 years. Reporting that clot-dissolving treatment administered intravenously within the first 4.5 hours and mechanical clot removal applied within the first 6-hour time window reduce death and disability rates, Baydemir noted that approximately 2 million nerve cells lose their function every minute in the blocked vessel area, making early diagnosis crucial.