35,000 people dying of stroke every year in Karnataka: Nimhans Director

Dr D Gururaj, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) said that over 70,000 patients suffer a stroke every year in Karnataka and around 35,000 individuals succumb to it.

Bengaluru (Karnataka): Karnataka is witnessing a spike in cases of stroke, with nearly 35,000 individuals succumbing to it every year, Dr D Gururaj, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) said on Thursday.

Gururaj was speaking at the inauguration of a training programme for doctors and nurses on the prevention and management of stroke on the occasion of 'World Stroke Day'.

The Nimhans director said that stroke cases were increasing in Karnataka every year. The health staff have to create awareness among the people to get proper timely treatment to prevent deaths due to stroke.

According to the latest statistics, six lakh stroke victims are currently being treated in the state.

Over 70,000 patients suffer a stroke every year in Karnataka and around 35,000 individuals succumb to it, Gururaj said.

Such cases are increasing in the state owing to lack of physical activity and exercise, lack of proper diet, and addiction to alcohol and smoking, he added.

As part of the programme, doctors and nurses of 16 hospitals in Bengaluru will initially be trained. It will later be extended to all districts of the state in a phased manner.

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The National Health Campaign, Nimhans and the State Health and Family Welfare Department will work together to develop training, capacity, treatment facilities, speedy action and people-awareness programs to control cases.

Immediate actions are required towards stroke care and we will work on it, Gururaj assured.