Indulged in too many Diwali sweets? Watch out, say doctors

Indulged your sweet tooth this Diwali with fattening sweets and namkeen? Here's why you shouldn't have: a high-calorie diet minus physical exercise can lead to stroke, warn health experts.

What's more, it is estimated that a person dies of stroke (brain attack) every 36 seconds in India - and the most number of these cases occur in Gujarat.

That apart, it appears that the Diwali period is when people are most prone to suffering strokes. Of the total 16, 67,372 cases recorded in the country last year, about 30 percent had occurred between November and January. Experts say this is the period when high-calorie food combines with lack of exercise and cold weather - proving fatal for many.

To increase awareness about stroke and its causes, a group of doctors recently launched Ahmedabad Stroke Awareness and Rehabilitation Association (ASARA), a body supported by Sterling Hospital and Rotary Club. The association plans to rope in other eminent doctors, non-government organisations and private hospitals for the campaign.

Dr Sudhir Shah, regional co-ordinator for Indian Stroke Association and chief adviser to ASARA, says, "In fact, stroke is responsible for more deaths in India and Gujarat every year than those attributed to malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS put together." And as if these frightening statistics are not enough, he adds that 3,800 paralytic stroke cases occur in India everyday, and Gujarat records the maximum number of them in the country. The state ranks third globally in the number of stroke cases, he says.

As the scenario gets grimmer during the November to January period, experts advocate caution and stress the urgent need to generate public awareness about the problem.

However, pointing out a silver lining, Dr Shah says that 70 percent of stroke cases are preventable with minor precautions like keeping a constant tab on homocysteine, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, from the age of 42. "Those having a family history of high levels of homocysteine, blood pressure and blood sugar as well as hypertension and obesity, fall into the high risk category for this disease," he warns, advising, "They must undergo regular blood and carotene doppler tests to prevent a sudden stroke."

Forty percent of stroke victims sustain permanent damage to the nervous system.  However, most cases are reversible and treatable if a victim is brought to the hospital within 4.5 hours of suffering the stroke.