After World Stroke Day on October 29, the Perpignan hospital center organized an awareness day this Thursday, November 6, 2025. Reminder of symptoms, explanation of risk factors and update on rehabilitation and rehabilitation in the program.
“Every second counts.” This is what the neurology department of the Perpignan hospital center, headed by Dr Denis Sablot, wanted to remind us this Thursday, November 6, 2025 on the occasion of stroke awareness day. This stroke occurs in 80% of cases when a cerebral artery gradually becomes blocked or blocked by a clot, and in 20% of cases during a cerebral hemorrhage, linked to hypotension (drop in blood pressure).
“We are actors in these factors”
At the Perpignan hospital, between 950 and 1,000 strokes are recorded each year. A figure which remains stable as mentioned by the neurology department made up of Valérie, Anne and Aurélie, nurses, and Marie, health executive: “Stroke affects both men and women, but you should know that it is the leading cause of death in women, just ahead of breast cancer. We also notice that there are more and more young people, many 30-40 year olds“. In question for the latter, a lifestyle in which the consumption of alcohol or drugs is present.
Among the other risk factors, affecting all types of population, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (heart rhythm disorder), diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, being overweight, alcohol abuse and a sedentary lifestyle follow each other, to a greater or lesser extent. “These are modifiable risk factors, meaning that everyone can act on them. We must realize that we are actors in these factors“, continues the neurology team in its quest to raise awareness among as many people as possible.”This is a public health issue. You should know that during a stroke, you have 4 hours to do thrombolysis, or inject a product that will destroy the clot. Every minute counts to reduce the after-effects. It is therefore important to be informed, know the symptoms, not trivialize and be reactive by calling 15. We don’t talk about it enough“, specify the nurses.
“Just one of these 3 signs is enough to call 15”
An acronym, put forward by the France AVC 66 association, makes it possible to remember these symptoms which appear suddenly: V (paralyzed face), I (inertia of a limb), T (speech disorder) and E (extreme emergency), “that is to say that only one of these 3 signs is enough to call the 15“Also taken into account are vision problems, loss of balance, dizziness, violent headaches, all sudden and unusual. President Marie-José Pellizzari also insists on the speed of reaction to these warning signs. But she also mentions the warning symptoms to which it is important to pay attention, such as unusual fatigue or severe headaches.”Since my arrival at the association, I have seen the number of strokes per year increase from 120,000 to 140,000 in France. There is a stroke every 4 minutes. What we must remember is that if we remain vigilant about our health and our lifestyle we reduce the risk“, concluded Marie-José Pellizzari.
And after the stroke? “Ensure that the patient finds the place that suits them in society”
Rehabilitation doctor at USSAP – Center Bouffard Vercelli, Dr Catherine Leblond recalls that in the department “we are rather very good in the initial management of patients in the acute stage, immediately post-stroke, who immediately undergo both thrombectomy or thrombolysis (treatment to unblock the cerebral artery, editor’s note)”. She also mentions a second positive point, “unlike the national average, where one in five patients finds a place in an SMR, that is to say in a rehabilitation center, medical and rehabilitation service, in the department, approximately three quarters of patients with neurological after-effects have access to a center.“. A multidisciplinary service (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, etc.) in which the patient continues his stay. At the Bouffard Vercelli center, it is three months on average depending on the after-effects.
“Post-stroke, it is important to begin rehabilitation intensively and early to have the maximum chance of recovering motor skills and other factors that are deficient such as language or cognitive functions. But sometimes, unfortunately, the importance of the vascular lesion does not allow it“, explains the doctor. This is where rehabilitation comes in: “learn to do things differently“in his daily life (driving, accommodations, professional reintegration, etc.) and”ensure that the patient finds the place that best suits them in society, depending on their after-effects“.
