Stroke Support Group Meet organized at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital

With an initiative to bring about optimistic change in the lives of stroke patients and their caregivers, Institute of Neurosciences, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals organized a meeting for ‘Stroke Support Group’ today. This meeting was organised with the aim that the stroke survivor and their care givers will interact with each other, get realistic feedback, express their concerns, share their experiences, get tips and receive emotional comfort. The event was organised by Dr PN Renjen – Senior Consultant, Neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.

Addressing the meet, Dr. Renjen elaborated “Stroke is one of the principal causes of death and disability in India. It also remains the second leading cause of death for people aged 60 years and commonest cause of disability with nearly 70% of survivors remaining vocationally impaired. Stroke or Brain Attack is a potentially life-threatening event, it is a condition in which, part of brain is deprived of adequate oxygen and energy. Stroke may be Ischemic due to clotting in artery of brain which results in brain damage, or it may be haemorrhagic due to tear in wall of artery that results in bleeding in brain. Nearly 80 percent of all strokes are ischemic. Stroke can prove to be fatal if the patient is not brought to the hospital on time.”

“To manage an ischemic stroke case Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) is one of the approved methods in which the clot that is blocking the nerve in the brain is dissolved. This helps in resuming the full blood supply to the part of the brain which was earlier blocked. Mechanical thrombectomy is also followed in cases which require surgical intervention. There are many devices such as stent retrievers that help in revascularization of occluded intracranial vessels that helps in increasing the success rate of ischemic stroke cases,” further added Dr Renjen.
With the advancement in technology, there is a total paradigm shift in medicine and healthcare sector but nothing can replace the value of ‘human touch’. A stroke sufferer needs attention and love. Their caregivers too seek for support and advice on how to deal with such patients. In such situations, Support Groups are of great respite to the patients and their family members. Stroke can be very isolating and the stroke support group is a forum for survivor and their care givers to make friends, socialize and help each other. By organising such support group meetings, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals aim to bring about a positive transformation in the lives of these survivors and their caregivers.