Stroke specialist urges public to recognize warning signs.
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NewsA consultant neurologist at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka has urged the public to recognise stroke warning signs and seek immediate medical attention to improve recovery outcomes ahead of World Stroke Day. Dr Musisye Maurice Luchembe, Head of Stroke Services at UTH, said the hospital attended to nearly 60 stroke cases each month, […]
A consultant neurologist at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka has urged the public to recognise stroke warning signs and seek immediate medical attention to improve recovery outcomes ahead of World Stroke Day.
Dr Musisye Maurice Luchembe, Head of Stroke Services at UTH, said the hospital attended to nearly 60 stroke cases each month, highlighting the need for greater public awareness and prevention.
“One in four people have a lifetime risk of having a stroke,” Dr Luchembe said.
He said risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking and sedentary lifestyles, could affect people from as early as 35 years of age.
Dr Luchembe said before specialist stroke services were introduced at UTH, the hospital recorded a mortality rate of nearly 40 per cent among admitted stroke patients. He added that care had since improved, with efforts underway to expand specialist services nationwide.
He emphasised that early treatment and rehabilitation were essential in helping stroke survivors regain lost abilities and return to productive lives. He urged the public to seek medical attention immediately when symptoms appeared.
Meanwhile, medical student Chipo Moono explained that a stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, either by a blockage that deprives brain tissue of oxygen or by a ruptured blood vessel that causes bleeding.
Moono said the warning signs could be remembered using the BE FAST guide, which highlights sudden loss of balance, vision problems, facial drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulties. The final letter reminds people that time is critical and immediate medical attention is essential.
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