Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Oct 31: Medical experts have raised serious concerns over the rising incidence of strokes among young adults, warning that post-Covid lifestyle habits are accelerating vascular ageing and increasing health risks.
At a programme organised on World Stroke Day at the Institute of Neurosciences Kolkata (I-NK), doctors said that strokes, once considered an ailment of the elderly, are increasingly affecting younger individuals due to sedentary habits and poor lifestyle choices.
“Stroke is no longer limited to elderly people, especially after the Covid pandemic,” said Dr Apratim Chatterjee, Director of Stroke at I-NK. “Our modern lifestyle — limited physical activity, dependence on machines, poor diet, and lack of exercise — has made the younger population highly vulnerable. Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular complications are rising rapidly,” he added.
Chatterjee emphasised the importance of maintaining an active and balanced lifestyle. “Outdoor activities, social engagement, and regular exercise can significantly reduce stroke risk,” he said.
Dr R.P. Sengupta, Founder-Chairman of I-NK, highlighted the devastating impact of strokes on individuals and families. “Cancer, heart disease, and stroke are the three major killers — and stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability,” he noted. “A person may lose the ability to move, speak, or see properly. The condition is especially tragic when it affects people in the prime of their lives.”
Dr Sengupta also explained that treatment options have improved over the years. “Earlier, there were no effective treatments. We used to focus only on prevention. But today, if a patient is brought within one to two hours — the golden period — the damage can often be reversed through prompt medical intervention,” he said.
Calling it an “epidemic in motion,” Dr Chatterjee warned that one in every four individuals is now at risk of stroke. “Kolkata’s stroke mortality rate is higher than the national average. If the current trend continues, the situation will become far more severe in the next decade,” he cautioned.
The awareness campaign by I-NK aimed to educate the public on early warning signs, prevention strategies, and the importance of timely treatment — reminding that lifestyle modification remains the most powerful defence against strokes.