1,000 people a year have strokes in Cyprus

Every year around 1,000 people have strokes in Cyprus, of which 200 are fatal, according to the Neurological Society of Cyprus.

“Every six seconds, a lethal stroke happens somewhere in the world, leading to the death of nearly six million people,” Volunteer Commissioner Yiannis Yiannakis said in a statement on the occasion of World Stroke Day.

“One in six people around us are in danger of a stroke sometime in their life. It is the second most common cause of death in people over 60 years old and the most frequent cause of disability,” he added.

“The role of NGOs is essential in providing information on strokes, their prevention and the promotion of healthy eating and exercise.”

“A stroke,” he continued, “can be prevented, but when it happens however it is important to recognise it in time and transferring the patient as soon as possible to hospital after a stroke can be considered a medical emergency.”

Sudden numbness, difficulty in speech, total or partial loss of sight, imbalance, and vertigo, even a strong headache, are warning signs of a stroke.

“Immediate treatment can save lives and reduce disability,” Yiannakis concluded.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.