Stroke experts emphasize early treatment

Chennai-based stroke expert Sivarajan Thandeswaran has called for Indian hospitals to be certified as “stroke ready” so that people don’t waste time seeking treatment.

“Hospitals in India need to apply for and get NABH or JCI certification; instead, proper government legislation mandating patients to be transferred and treated in comprehensive stroke centers as in the West will improve stroke care,” said a senior consultant in stroke, general internal medicine and gerontology at Kauvery Hospital in Alwarpet on Wednesday.

He was speaking at a webinar on ‘Golden Hour: Every Minute Matters, Every Life Counts’ organized by Kauvery Hospital in association with The Hindu on the occasion of World Stroke Day, which is observed on October 29 every year.

He was joined by Harish R. Kamath, Consultant Neurologist, Kauvery Hosur. Experts emphasized the need for early access to care, as time is the most important factor in saving the brain. Stroke is the second leading cause of death, so treatment within 4.5 hours is critical.

Stroke treatment has changed tremendously, and families need to be aware of that, added Dr. Thandeswaran.

Dr. In his presentation, Kamath explained the symptoms of a stroke, including loss of balance, blurred vision, facial asymmetry, weakness in the arms and slurred speech. He said there will be 1.8 million new cases of stroke every year and 7.25 million deaths due to stroke every year.

Dr. Thandeswaran said that while hospitals in major cities have facilities for scanning, imaging and treatment, including thrombolysis (dissolving blood clots with drugs) and thrombectomy (removing the clot with surgery), in remote areas, telemedicine and video calls are used to identify stroke patients and transport them to comprehensive stroke centers where advanced services and specialized teams are available.

Doctors discussed lifestyle-related risks, including poor eating habits, physical inactivity and insufficient sleep.

“People should take responsibility for their health through routine check-ups for better treatment outcomes,” suggested Dr. Thandeswaran.

Published – 29 Oct 2026 05:30 IST