The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PIWAK Natural Health, Dr Prince Nelson Mortoti, has expressed concern over the increasing incidence of stroke among people aged between 30 and 49 years, describing the trend as worrying and deserving of immediate national attention.
According to Dr Mortoti, stroke, which was previously perceived largely as a condition affecting older people, is increasingly being recorded among relatively younger adults, raising concerns about lifestyle, hypertension and other underlying risk factors.
He said the development should prompt individuals, health professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders to intensify efforts towards prevention, early detection and public education.
Dr Mortoti made the call while speaking on the need for greater awareness of stroke and its risk factors, stressing that prevention should remain a major component of the country’s response to the disease.
Rising concern.
He noted that the occurrence of stroke among people in the 30–49 age bracket was particularly worrying because the affected population constituted an important segment of the country’s productive workforce.
“When people in their productive years suffer debilitating conditions such as stroke, the consequences go beyond the individual and affect families, workplaces and the wider economy,” he said.
He therefore urged Ghanaians, particularly young and middle-aged adults, not to assume that their age automatically protects them from stroke.
According to him, people must take their health seriously by undertaking regular medical checks and paying attention to warning signs and risk factors associated with the condition.
Hypertension a major concern.
Dr Mortoti identified uncontrolled high blood pressure as one of the major issues that must receive attention in the fight against stroke.
He encouraged adults to regularly check their blood pressure and seek medical attention when readings are consistently high.
He also mentioned other factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high cholesterol and diabetes as conditions or lifestyle factors that could increase the risk of stroke.
He stressed that early detection and proper management of such conditions could help reduce the risk of serious complications.
Call for lifestyle changes
The PIWAK CEO called for a conscious shift towards healthier lifestyles, urging Ghanaians to adopt balanced diets, exercise regularly, maintain healthy body weight and avoid harmful habits.
He said prevention should not be left solely to healthcare professionals, but should become a shared responsibility involving individuals, families, communities, workplaces and government.
Dr Mortoti further encouraged people with known health conditions to adhere strictly to medical advice and prescribed treatment rather than waiting until complications developed.
Public education
He also called for intensified public education campaigns on stroke, particularly those targeting young adults.
He said education should focus on helping people understand the risk factors, recognise the early warning signs and seek immediate medical attention when symptoms occur.
He cautioned against delays in seeking professional healthcare or relying solely on unverified remedies when someone develops symptoms suggestive of stroke.
“Every minute matters when it comes to stroke. The earlier a patient receives appropriate medical attention, the better the chances of limiting the damage,” he said.
Need for collective action.
Dr Mortoti urged health authorities and relevant institutions to strengthen preventive health programmes and make screening for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol more accessible.
He said workplaces could also play an important role by encouraging regular health screening among employees and promoting healthier lifestyles.
He maintained that tackling stroke among younger adults required a comprehensive approach that combined prevention, public education, early detection and timely medical intervention.
Dr Mortoti said the alarming trend should serve as a wake-up call for Ghanaians to prioritise preventive healthcare rather than waiting until serious health problems emerge.
He encouraged members of the public to consult qualified healthcare professionals for proper screening, diagnosis and treatment, stressing that early medical intervention remains critical in reducing the devastating effects of stroke.
