Lalitha Hospital hosts large stroke‑awareness walk on World Stroke Day in Guntur

Lalitha PVS Institute of Medical Sciences in Guntur staged a public stroke‑awareness walk on World Stroke Day, drawing about 200 participants. The event featured talks by specialists and a code‑stroke drill for local health workers. Senior neurologist P. Vijaya, who leads the institute’s neuroscience unit, opened the programme and highlighted the need for quick recognition of stroke signs such as loss of balance, blurred vision, facial drooping, arm weakness and slurred speech. He urged people to keep blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol under control and to call emergency services at the first hint of symptoms. Dr. U. Veeramma reminded the audience that eligible patients have a 4.5‑hour window for clot‑busting treatment. Dr. Usha Kiran described how endovascular thrombectomy can restore blood flow in selected cases. Dr. N. Srinivasa Rao outlined surgical options for severe strokes, while Dr. Ajay spoke about the risk of depression after a stroke and the importance of early mental‑health support. Healthcare staff practiced rapid response protocols under the experts’ guidance. ## Context World Stroke Day is observed each year to educate the public about the leading cause of death and disability in India. Early detection and treatment dramatically improve survival and recovery chances, making community events like this vital for reducing the disease’s impact.