Strokes are one of the leading causes of death and are now striking at a younger age. Although they are now a major concern for all, a basic knowledge of timely first-aid can save lives and lead to patient recovery.
On October 26, the DTU Faculty of Medicine and the College of Medicine and Pharmacy, in conjunction with the Angels program of Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam LLC, organized a Talk Show entitled: “Stroke: The Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention”. The objective was to provide DTU students and others with information on the prevention and management of strokes.
Dr. Duong Quang Hai and Dr. Vo Thi Ha Hoa answer questions
Attendees included: Dr. Duong Quang Hai of the Danang Hospital Stroke Center and Pharmacy; Le Thi Hai, a specialist of the Angels’ Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands program; DTU Vice-Provost Dr. Vo Thanh Hai; Faculty of Medicine Dean MD Vo Thi Ha Hoa; International Medical Training Center Director MD Hong Hai, university staff, lecturers and students.
Dr. Duong Quang Hai said: “I’m happy and honored to be here today and share information on strokes. I have more than ten years of experience at the Danang Hospital Stroke Center and our hospital has one hundred beds that receive four thousand stroke victims a year. We conduct emergency treatment, interventions and active treatment measures to reduce the number of deaths and restore patient health. According to the World Stroke Organization, one in six of us will suffer from a stroke sometime in our lives. Vietnam has a very high rate, with two hundred thousand stroke patients a year. Notably, the rate of young people suffering from strokes is increasing quickly, now accounting for about 25% of the total.”
Thanks to Dr. Hai, the attendees could get a much clearer picture of the common stroke types: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Factors which increase the risk of stroke are age, sex, family history, and pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, blood lipids, a history of stroke, fibrous dysplasia, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Telltale signs include sudden confusion, difficulty in speaking, sudden problems with vision in one or both eyes, sudden walking problems, dizziness, loss of balance, sudden and severe headaches, and sudden numbness of hands and feet, especially on one side of the body. A patient showing these symptoms should receive first aid and be immediately transferred to the nearest emergency medical facility. This is because the condition progresses rapidly, and stroke patients can usually be saved only within the first three hours.
Further interest was aroused when the questions began, such as: “People often say that late night bathing can cause a stroke, is this true?”; “Do menopausal women have an increased risk of stroke?”; “Is the treatment different for patients with a history of stroke compared to first-timers?”, and so on. Dr. Hai answered all of the concerns, including how to identify the first signs of strokes and why proper and timely treatment is the best way to minimize effects and save the patients.
A walkathon to disseminate stroke prevention and treatment information
After Dr. Hai’s talk followed an awards ceremony for the media publication design contest entitled: “Strokes: One Minute Can Save a Life,” which took place from October 1 to 25 with the following results:
- First prize went to Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh, a K27YDK4 student
- Second and third prizes went to groups in K27YDR1
- Impressive Media Product prizes went to Tran Thi Thu Huong, from K27YDR4, and Nguyen Van Hau from K28YKY
As an extension of the “Strokes: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention” event, a walkathon was also held on International Stroke Day, on October 29, to raise local awareness on stroke prevention and treatment.
(Media Center)