Every October 29, World Stroke Day serves as a reminder that stroke is both a medical emergency and, in many cases, a preventable one. While most awareness efforts focus on the “golden hour” after a stroke -- the crucial first few hours for treatment -- doctors now say the real focus should be before the major event occurs. Advances in imaging, screening, and stenting techniques have made it possible to prevent many strokes long before they strike.

Brain warns before it breaks

“Nearly 80% of strokes are preventable,” says Pradeep Balaji, senior consultant neurosurgeon, Iswarya Hospital, Chennai. “But we often miss the warning phase -- the days or weeks when the brain gives early signals in the form of transient weakness, speech issues, or vision loss.”

These warning episodes, called Tra

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