Doctors at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s Stroke Unit have disclosed that more young persons are now being diagnosed with stroke.
According to the Head of the Stroke Unit at Korle-Bu, Dr. Albert Akpalu, about 60% of cases recorded are persons below the age of 55 years.
The doctors have blamed this on high intake of oily and fatty foods.
Speaking to JoyNews, the Head of the Unit, Dr. Albert Akpalu explained that stroke is associated with old age and very unusual for young people to be reporting such a high number of cases.
He added that the absence of equipment, including CT Scans is also hampering the detection, diagnosis and treatment of the non-communicable disease.
“Now, what are the problems? We have strokes in the young ones. About 60% of our strokes are persons below 55 years old and these are people in their prime of life and we need to change that narrative. It is abnormal because it is the reverse in the rest of the world because stroke is supposed to be in elderly people,” he said.
To avoid this, Dr. Akpalu suggested that people should stop eating fats and oils and adopt healthy living habits.
“Everybody has to take care of themselves. You need to eat well, there is a diet called the dietary advice to stop hypertension, stop adding salt to your food. If you see your face in the soup, then it is not a good soup skim the oil off, eat more nuts and vegetables,” he added.
Meanwhile, the President of Stroke Association Support Network has asked the government to support the Association in the establishment of stroke rehabilitation centers in all districts.
“We are asking the government to support the stroke association support network to bring into reality the 275 stroke rehabilitation centers that we want to build. One for each constituency,” he said.
Last year, the Executive Director of the Stroke Association Support Network-Ghana (SASNET-Ghana), Ebenezer Adams said the nation records between 12,000 to 16,000 cases of stroke annually, with diabetes, hypertension, alcoholism and smoking being major contributory causes.
He noted that about 30 per cent of cases recorded annually in the country result in deaths mostly recorded among people below 50 years.
Latest Stories
-
We may all resort to vote buying if electorates prioritise such over development – Asiedu Nketiah
16 mins -
NDF engages mineral extraction communities in advocacy and litigation resolution
20 mins -
Adabraka in community A/R unites to combat electoral violence
28 mins -
Forestry Commission cracks down on endangered bush meat trade
28 mins -
Global GDP could plunge by 24% by 2,100 without urgent climate action
29 mins -
High Court dismisses lecturer’s bid to block Deputy IGP’s appointment
37 mins -
MTN records 35.5% growth in profit to GH¢3.76bn in quarter 3, 2024
1 hour -
Deloitte to hold training on navigating customs and excise duty Obligations
1 hour -
Akufo-Addo, Bawumia should have prioritised National Peace Campaign launch – Mahama
1 hour -
AGI works to clamp down on substandard foreign mattresses penetrating Ghanaian markets
1 hour -
Immigration Service intercepts 54 gallons of fuel
1 hour -
Ace Medical Insurance makes its mark at Ghana Club 100 Awards
1 hour -
Dafeamekpor takes Speaker to High Court to affirm vacant seats ruling
1 hour -
Government is not funding GMX music streaming platform – Director of Marketing
1 hour -
Energy sector not advancing enough – ACEP
2 hours