A stroke occurs when the brain is damaged after being deprived
of blood by a blockage or a haemorrhage in the blood vessels.
While strokes are often regarded as a by-product of advanced
age, stroke patients in the UAE tend to be much younger than in
Europe and other comparable regions. While most strokes in
Europe occur in people aged between 60 and 75, in the Emirates
the danger period is between the ages of 40 and 55 - which many
people view as the prime of life. It's welcome news that medical
professionals and health authorities are taking the incidence of
stroke seriously and are investing resources and expertise in
the area. To that end, a dedicated stroke treatment centre will
open at Al Qasimi Hospital in Sharjah early next year. As The
National reported yesterday, the new centre will have the latest
equipment for the emergency treatment and rehabilitation of
these patients. More importantly, it will have dedicated staff
and streamlined, rehearsed procedures. According to Dr Gunther
Wihl, a consultant