10 thousand death and disability cases caused yearly by stroke;

Medical Club at King Khalid University organizes an exhibition to raise awareness of stroke.

Medicine and creativity Club in the Faculty of Medicine at King Khalid University, in cooperation with the Saudi Society of stroke, has held an exhibit to raise awareness of stroke. The venue was at the Oasis Mall, and in attendance at the occasion were dignitaries, such as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Sulaiman Al-Hamid, the Deputy Head of the Saudi Society of stroke, Dr. Adel Hazani, and student activity pioneer from Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Yahya Al'raqbi.

The exhibit witnessed a large turnout, where the number has increased to 400 beneficiaries. Visitors moved around the various sections of the exhibition, which included a section to check blood sugar levels, to check blood pressure, to measure height and weight, in addition to the educational section for stroke; its symptoms, and how to avoid them, as well as a section for medical consultations, presented by Dr. Adel Hazani.

For his part, the Neurosurgery and Stroke Consultant, Dr. Adel Hazani, used the occasion to explain that stroke was the main cause of disability in adults around the world, it is one of the main causes of death, and it infected annually more than 20 million people around the world, leading to 5 million deaths. He also noted that one out of six people is at risk of stroke during his lifetime. Dr. Al Hazani revealed that every six seconds someone loses his life around the world because of the stroke, pointing out that most of the mortality of this condition is in the developing countries, accounting to 80%, and in particular in the Middle East. He further indicated that statistics show that the injured person stroke every quarter of an hour in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), produces more than 10 thousand deaths and disability annually, stressing that this number is in the increase to the double within a few years, because of the high-risk factors. Infection rates of high blood pressure and diabetes are at the top in the KSA, in addition to the prevalence of obesity and smoking; all of which are risk factors which can lead to a stroke.

Dr. Al Hazani stressed that we could prevent most cases by adjusting the blood pressure and the level of sugar through exercise, health and nutrition, and by reducing the consumption of salt, as well as by quitting smoking. He said: "It is important to recognize the symptoms of stroke, and if they happen - God forbid – patient should directly and immediately go to the hospital for early treatment. Cure rates rise - God willing – only if the society's awareness of risk factors and of symptoms of stroke rises as well"