Exploring alarming statistics on a growing health challenge

IN the summer of 2023, Brijraj Ramsaroop 34-year-old, was driving to work when he felt an unfamiliar weakness creeping through his body.
As the sensation intensified, only one thought consumed his mind: his children. Little did Arjun know that he was about to become part of a growing yet often overlooked demographic – young stroke survivors.

This week, the Pepperpot Magazine spoke with now 35-year-old Brijraj and registered general practitioner, Dr. Varun Budhram, to explore the often-overlooked subject of stroke. What is a stroke? What are the warning signs? And is there life after?

Understanding Stroke: Two Perspectives

Most people have a vague idea of what a stroke or ‘Cerebrovascular Accident’ is, and even fewer have experienced one. Brijraj, or Junior, as he’s commonly known, is a jovial, free-spirited, and devoted family man. Before his stroke, Junior worked as an auditor with an interest in technology.

Although living with diabetes, Junior never saw a stroke as a possibility until it happened. He recounts, “I kept noticing as though I started feeling weak. While driving and shifting gears with my left hand, I noticed it felt a little weak. And at that time, I noticed that my chest was hurting a little bit.” That pain intensified, leading to the loss of function in the left side of his body throughout the following days.

Junior’s wife and two small children became his motivation during this time. He shares, “I’m happily married to my wife, and we have two kids, age six and one. They were both born five years apart on the same day. So they are my joy, my happiness, they are my motivation to continue surviving and living as normal as I can. When I was in the hospital, I heard my son’s voice every time. Every time I tried to get up and move, I would hear, ‘Dada, don’t give up. Remember, don’t give up.’ And it stuck with me, and it motivated me to keep going.”

Misconceptions and lack of information also posed challenges. Junior states, “If you tell any hundred people that know me that I had a stroke, they will not believe you because I am only 34. So the first thing is that there is no age at which it’s going to happen to anybody. The stigma attached to people with disabilities and people with stroke. It’s hard. I never understood it until I fell into that bracket. In terms of awareness, I can honestly say there is not enough information out there that speaks directly to a stroke.”

Dr. Budhram sheds light on common misconceptions: “One of the most common misconceptions is that this doesn’t just affect elderly persons. Overall, most people would think that a stroke is something that would affect their grandparents or so forth. But these days, strokes can affect younger individuals as well. We can actually have a stroke in young adults.”

There seems to be a rise in the occurrence of cerebrovascular illnesses. In fact, according to Dr Budhram, there is a higher number of cases than ever in Guyana and the region. He shared that, “In terms of a recent study that was done in a first-world country, approximately 10% of strokes happen in persons under the age of 45. However, when you start to go into third world countries, like Guyana, that incident level actually goes up to 30%, where approximately 30% of the individuals who have been diagnosed with a stroke is actually under the age of 45, and 45 is still young.”

The road to recovery
More than a year later, Junior has regained the ability to walk and has returned to a normal schedule, but it was no easy task. Although he still has a way to go, his progress is inspiring. “One of the greatest difficulties I’ve learned from my personal experience and discussing with many other stroke patients is acceptance. I think accepting this part of life has been one of my greatest weaknesses,” he states.

Highlighting two major challenges: the mental impact and finanacial strain, Junior says, “The mental health. This is, honestly, generally in this country, the most underrated issue. In our country, for both males and females, but for men especially, it is the most underrated and less talked about issue in our country,” he said. “Financially, it sucks you dry. Whatever savings you have will go. In terms of support financially from the government or [other] organisations is very minimal to nothing much.”

Junior strongly believes in physical therapy, stating, “What I’ve learned so far on the physical recovery itself is that there are periods of neuroplasticity that occurs in the brain where the brain tries its best to remap your functions from the parts that have been damaged in your brain because of the stroke.”

Dr. Budhram shares similar sentiments, saying, “Physical therapy does play a crucial role in rehabilitation of a stroke. It actually helps recovery of the mobility of those that are affected, and there’s also speech therapy as well, to where they can help, which helps with improving speech.”

Life After Stroke
Both men affirm that there is life after a stroke. Dr. Budram, having seen it firsthand, shares, “There is life after a stroke. I would like to tell all those who are suffering with a stroke, that their life doesn’t end there. With treatment, controlling your underlying conditions, physical therapy, speech therapy, you can regain some function and with the aim of improving your quality of life. So your life doesn’t end after having a stroke.”

Junior believes there is life after a stroke at any age because he is proof that life continues with dedication and a good support system. As he stated, “Don’t give up on yourself. But you keep working to get back your functions with your therapist. Whether it’s the palms or it’s private, if you can afford it, therapy is the best option for you to get back. But just don’t give up on yourself.”