Doctors Dureza C. Abad and Ryndell G. Alava, both Fellows of the Philippine Neurological Association, both shared that stroke is the second leading cause of death among Filipinos, after heart attack. Both physicians revealed this during a lecture-forum titled “Cracking the Code of Stroke: Symptoms, Action and Prevention.”
The hybrid forum organized by the UPV Health Lifestyle and Wellness Committee was attended by online participants and by an audience at the Conference Room, Administration Building, Miagao campus on 26 August 2026.
Both doctors pointed out that there were approximately 63,000 deaths caused by stroke from 2003 to 2019. It is also among the top five diseases that cause disability. They defined stroke as the “sudden onset of a focal or global neurologic deficit due to underlying vascular pathology.”
Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of spotting the symptoms of stroke using the acronym of BEFAST. B for loss of balance, E for eye getting blurred, F for one side of the face drooping, A for weakness in the arms or legs, S for difficulty in speech, and T for time, which necessitates bringing the patient to the nearest hospital immediately.
“A stroke is a medical emergency that requires urgent treatment. The sooner a person arrives at the hospital, is assessed by a doctor, and receives a brain scan, the less damage is likely to happen. This results in better outcomes and less disability,” Abad and Alava pointed out.
The forum emphasized that stroke is preventable, treatable, and beatable. With these in mind, the recommended antidote to stroke include exercising, eating right, sleeping well, controlling risk factors, engaging in activities that stimulate the brain, and engaging in social interactions. Additionally, it is highly recommended that individuals regularly monitor their blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, maintain a normal BMI, and reduce waistline circumference. It also means reducing risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, diabetes, atrial fibrillation (irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm), and snoring.
Abad and Alava are both alumni of the BS Biology program of UPV and earned their Doctor of Medicine at West Visayas State University. The hybrid lecture forum was attended by 135 participants online. Twenty attendees of the monthly “Kamustahanay” program of the Committee were physically present.
Written by Mary Lyncen M. Fernandez
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