Salem, 14th July 2026: Continuing its nationwide "Save the Brain" movement, the Indian Stroke Association (ISA) organized Stroke 360°, a one-day scientific and educational program in Salem on 12th July 2026. Conducted in association with Stroke Academy, Salem Brain Club, and the Association of Physicians of India (API), Salem Chapter, the initiative aimed to strengthen stroke education among doctors, inspire future healthcare professionals, and increase awareness about the importance of timely stroke treatment.

As part of the program, leading stroke specialists and intervention Neurology experts from across the country delivered focused scientific sessions covering the complete spectrum of stroke care, from emergency assessment and neuroimaging to intravenous thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, Stenting, coiling, AVM and dural fisutla embolization, secondary prevention, and rehabilitation. The conference was designed to help physicians translate the latest evidence into everyday clinical practice, ensuring patients receive faster diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Dr. Vikram Huded, President of the Indian Stroke Association (ISA), said, "Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in India. It can leave survivors with paralysis, speech and swallowing difficulties, cognitive impairment, and lifelong dependence on caregivers, profoundly affecting their quality of life. Despite advances in treatment, many patients still do not reach the hospital within the critical treatment window of 4.5 hours for IV thrombolysis and Upto 24 hours for Mechanical thrombectomy. Through initiatives like Stroke 360°, our goal is to continuously update healthcare professionals with the latest scientific evidence while creating greater awareness among young medical students who will become tomorrow's stroke physicians. Every doctor trained today has the potential to save countless lives tomorrow. Our message remains simple: recognise stroke early, act immediately, and remember that 'Time Lost is Brain Lost.'"

The program also featured an Undergraduate Medical Quiz, where teams of medical students from different institutions competed on stroke-related knowledge, encouraging academic excellence and early interest in neurology and emergency medicine. Alongside this, a Stroke Awareness Reels Competition provided students with an opportunity to create engaging public awareness content on stroke prevention and early recognition, helping spread life-saving messages through social media.

Dr. Arvind Sharma, Secretary of the Indian Stroke Association (ISA), said, "Stroke awareness should not remain confined to conference halls. Future doctors play a vital role in educating communities, identifying stroke symptoms early, and ensuring timely referral to specialised stroke centres. By combining scientific education with interactive competitions, Stroke 360° encourages learning while promoting public engagement. Increasing awareness about the BEFAST warning signs, improving emergency response, and strengthening multidisciplinary stroke care can reduce stroke-related disability and deaths in India."

ISA urges everyone to pay attention to BEFAST symptoms

Balance difficulty

Eye vision changes

Facial drooping

Arm weakness

Speech difficulty

Time to act

The event forms part of ISA's larger 'Save the Brain' campaign, which focuses on improving stroke care through continuous medical education, strengthening emergency response systems, promoting evidence-based treatment, and increasing public awareness about stroke prevention. Experts continue to stress that early recognition of stroke symptoms, rapid transport to an equipped stroke centre, and timely interventions such as intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy remain the most effective ways to improve patient outcomes.

By bringing together experienced clinicians, young doctors, and medical students under one platform, Stroke 360° is committed to strengthening India's stroke care ecosystem while inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals to contribute towards reducing the country's growing stroke burden.