Call / Whatsapp
+918447748545

Published on: Apr 04, 2020
3 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Anyone With Flu Like Symptoms Are Now Encouraged

The Bold Strategy the UK has adopted against COVID-19

The UK government had outlined its Coronavirus strategy in three distinct steps. The first stage was to contain the virus. This was implemented when spread of the virus was primarily by infected patients from abroad. Public health advice was provided, campaigns on washing hands, not touching the face, practicing safe hygiene. Potentially infected individuals were informed to self-quarantine for 14 days whilst waiting for symptoms to develop and testing to occur. Now it is evident this is not enough. The virus has spread to enough people that transmission can now occur locally, between people who have never been abroad. Containment is not the aim, mitigation of number of cases to prevent burdening the health services. The second stage aims to reduce the epidemic’s peak, flatten it out so the number of cases do not occur at once.

Anyone with flu like symptoms are now encouraged to stay home for 7 days, and testing will only occur for hospital admissions. Beyond this little appears to have changed. Schools will remain open, social gatherings have not been cut yet (but is expected over the next week) and general life will continue as normal. This is a risky measure, one that suggests the government is not taking the issue seriously. France, Spain and Italy have enacted lockdown measures, Germany has begun cutting social gatherings. So why is the UK not following in step? Are people going to die as a result of this inaction?

DELAY THE SPREAD

The answer is of course complex. PM Boris Johnson has acknowledged that as a result of his decision people may die, especially the elderly who are seen as a very vulnerable population. But this plan has been discussed with multiple scientists, doctors, public health specialists, and there is method in the madness. Currently the UK is in the early stages of the epidemic. The number of infected are expected to rise sharply in 4 weeks, with a peak in 10–14 weeks. Implementing harsh restrictions too early can lead to “self isolation fatigue”, resulting in people not following the restrictions stringently or leaving their homes at the height of the epidemic. Restrictions also come with their own problems, and implementing them may lead to more harm than good. Simple measures such as hand washing and self isolation can itself reduce the peak of cases by 20%.

Schools have not yet been closed because COVID-19 does not appear to affect children as much. Closure of schools would also mean parents having to stay at home to look after their children (after all, nurseries, creches and other forms of childcare would still result in a spread of infection). In some cases these parents are also healthcare professionals, and the UK needs every single doctor, nurse and allied health professional to be on the frontline treating patients.

So what is the strategy? The NHS is currently full of patients due to the winter burden, one that is expected to taper off in the coming months. Slowing the onset of the epidemic’s peak to Summer, spreading it across the next few months so the maximum number of people can be treated in the hospital setting without overburdening. The aim is no longer to prevent the spread of infection but to protect the most vulnerable age groups. This model allows the young and healthy to become infected, almost encourages it.

INFECT YOUR CITIZENS

Now this sentence may sound ridiculous when said out loud. Allow infection. But why? The UK has acknowledged there is no way to stop the infection. Whilst the mortality in the elderly population and those with medical conditions are high, in the young and healthy it manifests as a mild illness with almost all infected cases recovering. More importantly, recovered patients have immunity against the virus, manifesting as antibodies in their blood. Immune patients cannot infect other people, so the more immune patients there are the slower the virus will spread. This is known as herd immunity, and the process is discussed in length in our blog on vaccines. Herd immunity needs to be achieved before the onset of winter in 2020, as winter admissions alongside COVID admissions would result in a disaster.

https://medium.com/@rajneesh.dwivedi/developing-a-vaccine-for-covid-19-part-1-f7263ae9bf88 Rajneesh secondmedic

The strategy is of course risky, and one that has not been implemented before. And since the infection will not be contained people will die. But by spreading the burden of the infection across a longer time period will allow those who require treatment to receive it in a far less burdened health system. And it has received support from health professionals, even those who are fierce critics of the PM and Conservative government. But it has resulted in confusion amongst the population, a population that looks at authoritative action taking place in other countries and not understanding why their own doesn’t follow suit. The issue is these draconian measures are not sustainable, and if implemented correctly the UK strategy may result in far less lasting damage on its health service and the economy.

Dr Rajan Choudhary, London UK

Head Of Products, Second Medic Inc (www.secondmedic.com)

Read Blog

Stroke Warning Signs for Indians Over 40: Early Detection Can Save Lives

Introduction

Stroke is a major health issue in India — both as a cause of death and lifelong disability. For people over 40, the risk climbs sharply. The earlier a stroke is recognized and treated, the better the chances of recovery. In this post, we’ll look at the warning signs of stroke especially relevant in Indians over 40, backed by real survey data, the risk factors common in India, what to do, and how to act fast. Understanding these can help you or your loved ones catch a stroke early and reduce damage.

How Big Is the Problem in India, Especially After 40

According to a 2024 study using Global Burden of Disease data, stroke incidence in India has increased from 76 per 100,000 people in 1990 to ??88 per 100,000 in 2021 for all ages.
Stroke incidence and burden are especially high among people aged 50-69 and over 70.
Another study in North India showed that a large number of adults over 45 lacked awareness about warning signs of stroke: nearly 46% didn’t know warning signs.
Among hypertensive patients (~mean age 54) from Western Rajasthan, about 75% recognized at least one stroke symptom like slurred speech or body-weakness, but 25-30% still lacked awareness.

These figures show that though awareness is improving, there is a significant gap in recognition of warning signs among people over 40 — a high-risk group.

Warning Signs of Stroke (What to Look Out For)

In Indians over 40, common symptoms are similar globally, but here are those particularly reported in Indian surveys:

Sudden Weakness or Numbness on One Side
Many people identified “paralysis of one side of the body” or weakness in an arm or leg. In a Tamil Nadu hospital-based survey, 56% of respondents recognized this symptom.
Facial Droop or Deviation
One side of face droops or mouth slants. In the same survey, ~20% noted deviation of the mouth.
Speech Problems
Slurring, garbled speech, or trouble understanding what others are saying. ~16% in that survey recognized speech impairment.
Vision Disturbance
Sudden trouble with sight in one or both eyes (blurring, loss of vision). Awareness of this is lower: about 53% recognized vision disturbances in a Kerala survey.
Loss of Balance, Dizziness, Severe Headache
Sudden loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, confusion, or sudden, severe headache are also warning signs. Surveys show these are less well recognized compared to motor or speech symptoms but still important.

Risk Factors: What Makes Stroke More Likely After Age 40

Understanding risk helps prevention:

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) — arguably the biggest factor. Many over-40 Indians have undiagnosed or uncontrolled high BP.
Diabetes Mellitus — often co-exists; increases damage to blood vessels.
Dyslipidemia (High Cholesterol / Lipids)
Smoking & Tobacco Use — cigarettes, chewing tobacco.
Alcohol Use
Obesity / Sedentary Lifestyle
Dietary Risks — high sodium, low fruits/vegetables.
Heart Conditions — atrial fibrillation, prior heart disease.
Other — age itself, stress, sometimes air pollution.

Awareness & Knowledge: What Indian Surveys Reveal

In the Rajasthan survey among hypertensive patients (mean age ~54), around 75-80% knew at least one major warning sign (one?side weakness, speech or vision issues), but 25-30% were unaware.
In a community survey in Kerala, 94.2% identified facial weakness, 86.6% speech disturbances, 84.5% limb weakness. But only ~53% recognized vision issues as a symptom.
In a North Indian telephone survey, nearly half the participants (?46%) did not know warning signs.

So even in literate, more urban or health-aware areas, a non-trivial proportion of people over 40 are not fully aware.

Why Early Recognition Matters

Treatments like thrombolysis (clot-busting medications) are time sensitive — often must be given within a few hours (“golden hour”). Delays drastically reduce benefit.
Early hospital arrival, correct diagnosis, and starting therapy quickly can reduce severity, prevent permanent disability, reduce mortality.
Preventing recurrence: once someone has had a stroke (or mini-stroke), risk of further strokes increases. Early intervention (lifestyle, medicines) matters.

What to Do If You or Someone Over 40 Notices These Signs

Don’t Delay — If sudden facial droop, weakness on one side, speech issues, vision trouble, or sudden severe headache occurs, seek emergency medical help immediately (call ambulance / go to hospital).
Note the Time — When symptoms started. Critical for treatment options.
Diagnostic Tests may include CT/MRI brain, ECG, carotid imaging, labs (blood sugar, lipids etc.).
Medical Management — Control high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol; anticoagulants if needed; lifestyle changes.
Rehabilitation — Speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy if deficits remain.

Real Numbers: What Are the Outcomes / Burden

Adjusted stroke prevalence in India is estimated between 84 and 262 strokes per 100,000 in rural areas, and 334-424 per 100,000 in urban areas depending on the region.
Among those aged 55+, stroke rates jump — e.g., in Trivandrum, rate is ~7.1 per 1,000 people per year for 55+, rising to 13.3 per 1,000 for those aged 75+.
The chance of having a stroke after 55 is roughly 1 in 5 for women and 1 in 6 for men in certain studies, though this includes all adults over 55.

Challenges in India

Delays in recognising signs and reaching hospital. Many people don’t know less obvious symptoms.
Low awareness of treatments and golden period for therapy. Surveys show only a small fraction know about clot lysis or emergency window.
Access issues: hospitals with stroke care, imaging etc. may be far. Costs, transport, awareness all barriers.
Comorbidities often unmanaged (hypertension, diabetes).

Prevention: What Indians Over 40 Can Do Now

Regular health checkups: Monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol.
Lifestyle changes: Healthy diet (low salt, more fruits/veg), active lifestyle, avoid tobacco, limit alcohol.
Stay alert to symptoms: Educate self / family about warning signs.
Emergency planning: Know nearest hospital that handles stroke, keep travel / transport options ready.
Medication adherence: If prescribed (for BP, diabetes, heart conditions), don’t skip.

Conclusion & Call to Action

Stroke warning signs for Indians over 40 are often clear—but awareness is still incomplete. Because stroke risk increases with age, recognizing the early warning signs like sudden weakness, facial droop, speech trouble, vision disturbance, and balance issues can make all the difference.

If you or someone over 40 feels any of these, act fast. Time matters. Go to the hospital immediately.

CTA: If you’re over 40, schedule a stroke risk assessment today — check your blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and get informed about warning signs. A simple health check can save your life or someone you care about.

Request A Callback

+91

By using this website/app, I confirm that I am at least 18 years old and consent to the processing of my personal data in accordance with the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Declaration.