New Delhi: One Indian loses their life to a stroke every four minutes — and increasingly, it’s women and the young who are paying the price. Once seen as a disease of the elderly, stroke is now attacking India’s most productive generation, with women aged 25 to 44 years facing a higher risk than men of the same age.
“Snoring during sleep could be your body’s SOS call,” warns Dr. Rajat Chopra, Senior Consultant and Head of Neurology at Yatharth Hospital, Model Town. “Sleep apnea – often dismissed as ordinary snoring – can raise the risk of stroke up to four times. Around 50–60% of stroke patients are found to have sleep apnea.”
Dr. Rajat Chopra
India records between 1.5 and 1.8 million stroke cases every year, making it the second leading cause of death in the country. Yet, only one in ten patients reaches a hospital in time. “The golden window is the first four to five hours,” stresses Sunel Satya Kapur, COO, Yatharth Hospital. “Beyond that, the chances of recovery shrink rapidly.”
Dr. Chopra points out that the incidence of stroke in India rose from 90 to 145 cases per 100,000 population between 1990 and 2021, while the number of people living with stroke-related disabilities more than doubled — from 4.4 million to 9.4 million in the same period.
“Stroke isn’t waiting for retirement anymore,” he says. “We’re treating more patients in their 30s and 40s – even teenagers.” At Yatharth Hospital alone, 50 to 55 new stroke patients are admitted every month.
In one alarming case, a five-year-old child suffered an acute stroke due to elevated homocysteine levels but recovered after weeks of treatment. Nationally, about one in every seven strokes occurs in people aged 15–49, and 10–15% of cases affect those under 50.
But the most worrying trend is among women. In 2019, women accounted for 56% of total stroke cases. “One in five women will suffer a stroke in her lifetime,” says Dr. Chopra. “And women aged 25–44 years are at a significantly higher risk than men. Hormonal changes after menopause, pregnancy-related complications, and use of oral contraceptives can all raise the risk.”
As the world marks World Stroke Day on October 29, doctors urge Indians to take the warning signs – especially snoring – seriously. Because sometimes, it’s not just noise in the night. It’s a cry for help from your brain.
On World Stroke Day, Dr. Vikas Gupta, Neurointerventional Surgeon, explains what stroke is, how to detect it early, and why awareness can save lives
Regional Patterns of Stroke in India
- South India: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh report high stroke incidence rates.
- North India: Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh show higher cardiovascular disease risks.
- East India: West Bengal and Odisha have high stroke-related disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).
- Rural Areas: Generally experience higher stroke incidence and mortality compared to urban regions.
Sources: National Stroke Registry Programme (NSRP); Global Burden of Disease Study 2016; The Lancet study on stroke incidence and mortality in India; India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative.
(Cover Illustration: )
