Stroke has been identified as the leading cause of death at the Eastern Regional Hospital in 2023.
This marks the third consecutive year that cardiovascular disease (CVD) or stroke has ranked first among the top causes of death at the hospital.
Other leading causes of death include hypertension, prematurity, and pneumonia.
Medical Superintendent at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw, highlighted the urgent need to sensitize the public about these health issues in order to change this trend. He made these remarks during the 2023 Annual Performance Review held in Koforidua.
“We did mention that CV or strokes are the number one cause of mortality in the Eastern Regional Hospital and did also allude to the fact that when you look at the data, there is a shift in the pattern of mortality from communicable diseases, as we had, to non-communicable diseases. What that means is that what kills people is not something that can be transferred to others. Lifestyle diseases such as stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and others have now taken the lead,” he is quoted to have said by CitiNews.
Regarding the mass exodus of health workers, Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw stated that the hospital has initiated training programs to equip critical staff to fill the gaps created by the departure of these workers.
“It is essential staff, the crème de la crème, that often leave and we have sped up the process, and we have replaced some of them and work in general is going on.”
Stroke is a medical condition that occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, leading to damage or death of brain cells.
The risk factors for stroke include:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Physical inactivity
- Family history of stroke
The symptoms of stroke can vary depending on the type of stroke and the part of the brain affected. Common symptoms include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause