Pakyi Number One (Ash), Nov. 19, GNA - The Physiotherapy Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi recorded 3,286 cases of stroke at its Out-Patient Department (OPD) from January to June this year.

Miss Margaret A. Acquaah, a physiotherapist at KATH announced this at an outreach education programme on stroke, organised by the hospital at Pakyi Number One in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District on Thursday.

The programme, which forms part of planned activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary celebration of the hospital is also to educate the people in the community to know the causes, effects and the control of the disease.

She said stroke is a deprivation of the blood supply to the brain and attributed its causes to high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking of cigarettes, high intake of salt and fats, self-medication and excessive drinking of alcohol.

Miss Acquaah explained that, some of the symptoms associated with the disease included the sudden weakness or numbness of one side of the face or one arm or leg, dimness or loss of vision of the eyes, severe headaches, inability to work or eat and sometimes, facial paralysis. She noted that the disease, if not well treated could result in problems or complications as heart attack, kidney failure or damage, blockade of the coronary arteries, impotency and blindness.

The physiotherapist also said the disease relates to diabetes could not be cured but control.

Miss Acquaah therefore, appealed to affected patients to control the disease through regular exercises of the body and check ups at the hospital, avoiding the smoking of cigarettes, reducing of fats and salt intake, taking of prescribed drugs as well as avoiding drinking of alcohol.

She said the physiotherapy unit of the hospital, as part of its efforts to minimise and control the disease has embarked on educational programmes to some selected communities and churches to educate patients and the public on the need to manage and control it.

Pastor Comfort Afari of the Evangelist Temple Bryant Mission at Pakyi Number One stressed the need for the people to avoid ostentatious living and lifestyles and control their sexual habits as some of the measures to control the disease.

Mr A. Forkuo, assemblyman for the area on behalf of the community, expressed gratitude and appreciation to KATH for the educative programme and hoped it would greatly improve their health status.