5m people die of stroke yearly – Neurologist

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

A consultant neurosurgeon at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Dr. K. W. Wahab, has disclosed that about 15 million people worldwide suffer from stroke annually.

The neurologist also disclosed that out of the figure, five million die, 5 million are living with the ailment while the remaining five million are successfully treated.

Wahab, who disclosed this during the health talk programme organised by the Islamic Welfare Foundation (IWF) in Ilorin, disclosed that in 2005 alone, 5.7 million people died as a result of stroke-related ailments in the world.

He said that stroke occurs when blood circulation to the brain fails.

Wahab, in his lecture, entitled, “Stroke and its Prevention”, the neurologist said that 80 percent cases of stroke will be recorded in the low income and middle income nations of the world by the year 2030.

The guest speaker, who is also a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin, stated that the two major causes of stroke include blockage of blood flow and blood seeping into the brain, adding that hypertension accounts for 65 to 85 percent of stroke cases in Nigeria.

The don said that indiscriminate intake of alcoholic drinks increases the risk of both Ischaemic and haemorrhagic type of stroke, stressing that “having a risk factor doesn’t mean one will suffer stroke and not having a risk factor doesn’t mean you will avoid a stroke”.

He advised that people should always engage in daily body exercise, quit smoking, check their BP regularly, take their drug regularly if hypertension patients, and always watch their weigh.

The Consultant urged Nigerians to avoid junk foods, keeping blood pressures normal, reducing salt consumption, avoiding deeply fried foods, eating vegetables and fruits regularly and taking balanced diet if they must prevent stroke.