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Kokilaben Hospital Launches Stroke Support Group

Mumbai-based Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute recently launched a comprehensive stroke plan with a stroke support group for stroke and paralysis patients.

Stroke specialist Dr Shirish Hastak considered starting the support group mainly for two reasons. "Patients physical as well as the psychological impacts have to be addressed for better treatment. With 90 per cent of stroke patients coming in too late for treatment, we wanted to create awareness amongst patients for prevention," he said. Countries like the United States with almost 1/10 of the stoke population as India, have over 3,000 support groups for stroke patients. "Even though we have an estimated 2,000-3,000 people who die of stroke every day in India, we don't have a single support group besides this one to spread awareness," added Dr Hastak.

Most stoke victims are not aware of basic information—for example 90 per cent of stroke victims are not aware that they can take medicines for prevention of further strokes or change in lifestyle can combat the disease. "Most patients drop out from treatment because it's a disease with a painless symptom," said Dr Hastak. The stroke can be treated properly if the patient is brought to a hospital within three hours of the first stroke.

The group has an expert panel of specialists which includes neuro-radiologist as well as neurosurgeons, who can answer all their questions, comprehensively. Every patient can bring a relative to the support group and when they go back they can help the patient recover faster.

The support group is a natural extension of the four-part-comprehensive stroke plan at the hospital. The other three parts are acute stroke plan, chronic stroke plan and rehabilitation stroke plan.

EH News Bureau