Advocating the need to spread awareness among doctors and people about brain stroke, Dr J P Singhvi, consultant neurologist at the Fortis and Inscol Hospital, said knowledge about the disease would increase the detection rate for stroke and help in better treatment.

Speaking on the occasion of World Stroke Day on Wednesday, the doctor also warned that stroke has now risen to be the country’s second largest killer disease and an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people die of stroke each year in the country.

“In recent years, we have seen that the younger population is getting strokes and some of our patients are in their 20s and late teens. If we talk about the general population, 15 to 20 per cent people in the age group of 60 years and above are susceptible to getting a stroke,” said Dr Singhvi. Sudden imbalance in the body, paralytic attack, severe headache or blur in the vision could be signs of brain stroke.

Dr Singhvi added that people with hypertension, diabetes, cardiac problems, smokers and people above the age group of 45 years are susceptible to stroke.

“Patients should be brought to a hospital within the first three hours of the stroke. This is called the golden period of treatment and chances of recovery are highest. Delay in treatment would mean the chances of complete recovery are reduced by the minute,” added the doctor.

The experts also stressed on yoga and meditation for reducing chances of suffering a stroke. It was added that studies have shown that pure vegetarians are more susceptible to getting a stroke than non-vegetarians.