Panaji: Hypertension is the leading risk factor for strokes, with approximately 70% of all stroke cases being hypertension-related, according to Dr Teresa Ferreira, head of the neurology department at Goa Medical College (GMC). She emphasized the critical importance of regularly monitoring blood pressure and maintaining it within a healthy range to prevent strokes.
Rising Stroke Cases at GMC
Every day, GMC's emergency department treats between three and five acute stroke patients, with severity ranging from mild to severe. Among recent cases was a 44-year-old woman who arrived with sudden right-sided weakness and slurred speech. Her blood pressure was recorded at 190/100 mmHg. Tests revealed evidence of chronic hypertension, which she had been unaware of, and a scan confirmed an ischemic stroke.
“Uncontrolled and inadequately controlled blood pressure leads to vascular damage and strokes. Hence, it is important to monitor BP regularly to see if the treatment is adequate to avoid complications,” Ferreira explained.
Age and Stroke Risk
While hypertension-related strokes can occur in individuals in their fourth and fifth decades of life, their frequency increases significantly from the sixth decade onward. Another recent case involved a 52-year-old man who had high blood pressure for two years but stopped taking medication six months ago on his own. He presented with acute left-sided weakness, and a scan showed a bleed in the brain. Although he survived, he was left with left-sided weakness, affecting his mobility and ability to earn a livelihood.
Long-term Consequences of Uncontrolled BP
Uncontrolled blood pressure can also lead to vascular dementia, caused by multiple small strokes that result in brain damage. Patients may experience slowness in walking, forgetfulness, and bladder control problems.
A 69-year-old patient was brought to GMC with confusion over two days, which progressed to seizures and coma. His blood pressure was 240/120 mmHg. He was a known hypertensive who had stopped medication for a month because he felt well. His reports were consistent with malignant hypertension, where extremely high blood pressure causes blood vessel involvement in multiple organs, including the brain, leading to end-organ damage.
Fatal Risks and Prevention
Besides ischemic strokes, intracranial bleeds are also commonly seen due to uncontrolled blood pressure, and these can be fatal even in the first attack, Ferreira warned. She advised that everyone above the age of 20 should check their blood pressure once a year. Individuals diagnosed with hypertension should monitor it monthly when well controlled, but more frequently until it is stabilized.
