Thread: Stroke patients in Myanmar increase six-fold

The number of people suffering stroke in Myanmar rose six folds due to changes in urban lifestyles, Dr Moe Moe Zaw, neurologist from Mandalay General Hospital told The Myanmar Times.

Among the main causes of this emerging lifestyle disease are low awareness in preventing high blood pressure, diabetes and failure to monitor blood pressure and blood sugar, she said.

“The dietary risk in urban lifestyle, tobacco smoke, high body mass index, alcohol and drug abuse and obesity are the factors that cause stroke. Structural heart disease, blood hyper viscosity, connective tissue disorders also makes a person vulnerable to the disease,” Dr Moe Moe Zaw said.

She added that among symptoms of the stroke include weakness and droopiness in the face, weakness in arm or leg as well as trouble in speaking.

Dr Moe Moe Zaw said that anyone who experiences these symptoms should immediately go to the nearest hospital for treatment.

During the past four years the number of Ischaemic and hemorrhagic stroke victims rose six-fold according to the records of Yangon General Hospital.

Many of the victims are under 40 years old and those over 60-years-old, hospital records showed.

Data in Yangon General Hospital showed there were a total of 1136 strokes patients in 2012; 1298 patients in 2013; 2441 patients in 2014; and 7333 patients in 2016.

Data from Mandalay General Hospital, showed there were 574 stroke patients in 2013; 561 in 2014; 797 in 2015; and 1047 in 2016.

“Actually, there were the patients who didn’t come to the hospital. We can’t get their data,” Dr Moe Moe Zaw said.

“Strokes occur due to the problems with the blood supply to the brain. Either the blood supply is blocked or a blood vessel within the brain ruptures, causing brain tissues to die. We could say the number of people suffering from stroke is on the rise in Myanmar,” she said.

The World Health Organization noted in a published report in 2014 that stroke is the leading cause of death in Myanmar, with fatalities from the disease reaching 56,224 or 14.4 per cent of the total deaths in the country on that year.

The death rate due to stroke is 153.81 per 10,000 of the population, making the Myanmar the 19th among the countries in terms of prevalence of deaths due to the disease.

Dr Moe Moe Zaw urged the people to lead a healthy lifestyle, have regular exercise and avoid alcohol and cigarettes in order to prevent from suffering strokes.

“Public stroke awareness always needed,” she told.

Mandalay General Hospital and the Mandalay Medical University have conducted the stroke awareness programs in the region.

She said Thrambolytic theraphy for stroke patients is available at the neurology ward of Mandalay General Hospital since June.


Stroke patients in Myanmar increase six-fold

Maybe Islamaphobia could be another reason their blood pressure is high.

Stroke is not a joke. My mom & I had to take care of my dad after his severe stroke. He was able to walk again after ~1 year and didn't recover 100%. He walked with a limp & didn't regain full use of his left hand.

I've a colleague whose husband is now housebound due to a stroke ~2 yrs ago. He can't go outside by himself - needs assistance. Husband was ~60 y.o. when he had the stroke.

Another colleague, his 48 y.o. relative also had a stroke. Now, the guy is 50 and permanently disabled. He can walk but is mostly homebound.

Stroke is emotionally, financially & physically taxing on the patient & family members. PI doesn't have good public healthcare system, so any illness takes its toll on the family.

The problem with these third world countries is the poor peoples lack of access to proper information to eating proper food and how that simple thing extends one life.

Most are to-busy workin to give a fok as well.

I see here in Bangkok obese street sellers and their kids who live on fried chicken cooked in rancid oil. That's their job so they eat the shit 24-7.

Funny thing is healthy eating is cheaper than eating shit innit.

Originally Posted by misskit

Many of the victims are under 40 years old

That's pretty young but due to poor diet + smoking they seem to have regressed to the state of health human beings had thousands of years ago.

The 3 ppl I've mentioned - my dad and the 2 relatives of colleagues - they weren't poor or uneducated. All college grads, relatively good existence (good for PI). But most had poor diets, smoked & drank alcohol. My dad had stopped smoking & drinking at that time, but he loved eating fatty food & was hypertensive (and wasn't religious in taking his medication). Lifestyle + hypertension + bad genes = stroke (for my dad).

@misskit - I'm glad you've recovered from your stroke, that you had good healthcare & support system.

Originally Posted by katie23

Stroke is not a joke. My mom & I had to take care of my dad after his severe stroke. He was able to walk again after ~1 year and didn't recover 100%. He walked with a limp & didn't regain full use of his left hand.

I've a colleague whose husband is now housebound due to a stroke ~2 yrs ago. He can't go outside by himself - needs assistance. Husband was ~60 y.o. when he had the stroke.

Another colleague, his 48 y.o. relative also had a stroke. Now, the guy is 50 and permanently disabled. He can walk but is mostly homebound.

Stroke is emotionally, financially & physically taxing on the patient & family members. PI doesn't have good public healthcare system, so any illness takes its toll on the family.

My dad had 6 heart attack's over about 20 years. The last 10 years, everyday he said "I'm dieing". Imagine that everyday for 10 years your dad saying he's dieing. In the end I started saying "Well, die you bastard, die". He's part of the reason I came to Thailand. Thankfully my mum put him in a home. So she could take back her own life. People who whinge about their health daily drive me nuts. You're not the only one, and there are others worse off than you.

^I know that others are worse off than me, I was.just stating facts. Fortunately we had the means to give my dad meds & physical therapy, so he was able to recover. Many others don't have, and they end up bedridden or as vegetable.

Some ppl don't have the option to put their relatives in care homes, because it's not available for their circumstances or country. I'm sorry for your dad's condition and I hope you don't suffer the same fate. He was lucky to have such a compassionate son.

Nothing to do with pollution and contaminated food then?

^ Oh, yes. Better order that air purifier.

Air pollution damages 'good' cholesterol 'leading to heart attacks and strokes'

AIR pollution causes heart attacks and strokes by damaging our ‘good cholesterol’- with women suffering even more than men, according to new research.

Air pollution causes heart attacks and strokes by damaging 'good' cholesterol | Health | Life & Style | Express.co.uk

Originally Posted by katie23

^I know that others are worse off than me, I was.just stating facts. Fortunately we had the means to give my dad meds & physical therapy, so he was able to recover. Many others don't have, and they end up bedridden or as vegetable.

Some ppl don't have the option to put their relatives in care homes, because it's not available for their circumstances or country. I'm sorry for your dad's condition and I hope you don't suffer the same fate. He was lucky to have such a compassionate son.

Suffer the same fate. Laid in bed watching T.V, banging on the ceiling with his walking stick, "bring me this, get me that". Breakfast in bed, lunch in bed, dinner in bed. Watching day time tele and not a care in the world. Don't you rob me of my heritage. I bloody will go the same way. A ten year waited on hand and foot adventure is getting closer year by year. Ahh, I can't wait.

^ Scary. Hope you saw a specialist.