Transient ischaemic attacks and strokes : overview

ABSTRACT

Although there is paucity of data on the incidence of Transient Ischaemic attacks and stroke in Africa; in developed countries cerebrovascular disease constitutes the third commonest cause of death after Ischaemic Heart Disease and cancer. There is need for epidemiological surveillance of these conditions in Africa since the classic risk factors like smoking are on the increase. In order to reduce the enormous socio-economic burden from disabilities of completed strokes; rehabilitation of patients; use of volunteers to manage dysphasia and early recognition of poor prognostic features (urinary incontinence; paralysis of the arm; loss of sitting balance; hemianopia and advanced age) should always be borne in mind