Bangalore: Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who has recovered from a stroke due to timely treatment, declared on Sunday that this was his "third birth." He attributed his renewed lease on life to both God and the team of doctors who cared for him. Before being discharged, Mr. Kumaraswamy also urged people not to underestimate the symptoms of stroke and paralysis. "For the past five days, some of my friends were in fear. If I am talking to you, then I must say that I got a rebirth," the former chief minister said.

"With regard to my health, God has given me a third birth. If a person gets one birth, in my case, I am of the opinion that in my 64 years of age, I got my third birth," he added. Mr. Kumaraswamy was hospitalized in the early hours of August 30 at a reputed city hospital. Doctors treating him diagnosed him with having had a stroke, which was subsequently completely cured. Recalling the series of events that led to his hospitalization, the JD(S) leader recounted waking up around 2 am on August 30, feeling unwell. Mr. Kumaraswamy said he promptly contacted his brother-in-law, the renowned cardiologist Dr. C N Manjunath, and subsequently consulted a neurologist who advised him to be admitted.

Mr. Kumaraswamy appealed to the people of the state not to procrastinate if they ever experience such symptoms. "I sensed the symptoms of paralysis at 2 am. If I had ignored it and said I would see a doctor in the morning, I would have been bedridden for the rest of my life," he emphasized. He went on to stress that people should not assume doctors are merely driven by financial motives because, when a patient seeks help, they sincerely strive to save lives. Speaking at the event, renowned neurologist and former director of NIMHANS, Dr. P Satishchandra, underscored the importance of people being aware of the 'BE-FAST' method to detect a stroke: B for Balance, E for Eyes, F for Face, A for Arms, S for Speech, and T for Time.

"These are the five symptoms. If there is reduced strength in the arm, if one experiences speech difficulties or stammering, if there is eye trouble, if there are facial changes, then one should promptly rush to a hospital without wasting time," he advised. Dr. Satishchandra also emphasized the significance of transporting the patient to an appropriate hospital that is equipped and staffed to handle stroke cases. "It should be a hospital that possesses all the necessary equipment and experts required for treating stroke patients. This allows us to make the most of what we call the 'golden hour,' meaning the patient should arrive within three hours. With this window, we have an additional hour to initiate treatment," the doctor explained.

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