Young People Have Stroke, What Is The Cause?

Medical Video: Stanford Stroke Experts Advance Recognition of Stroke in Young People

Did you know that strokes can also attack someone who is young? In 2010, a study was published in the journal Stroke, found between 1988 and 2004, threefold brain attacks occurred in women aged 35 to 54 years. Even in the mid 1990 to early 2000, research was published on Neurology showed an increase in stroke of about 54 percent of adults aged 20 to 45 years. We might think that strokes will not attack someone who is young. The myth is now indisputable.

The number of people affected by stroke does decrease, but the number of people affected by stroke at a young age actually increases. Research published in the journal Neroulogy shows that in 1999 and 2005 in Cincinnati, there was a decrease in stroke in people aged 71 to 69 years. But there is an increase of 13 to 19 percent in people aged 20 to 54 years. Although this is disputed by Andrew Russman, DO, a neurologist and stroke care specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. He said, indeed some studies show an increase in stroke at a young age, but the evidence is lacking. The incidence of stroke has decreased overall, perhaps this is due to education to better recognize stroke at a young age.

There are still differences of opinion between one party and another. But statistical data in America shows strokes that occur under the age of 45 years attack about 7 to 15 people per 100,000.

How can a stroke occur at a young age?

According to S. Ausim Azizi, MD, head of the Neurology department and lecturer in neurology at Temple University Medical School in Philadelphia, "Compared to stroke in old age, stroke at a young age is a different disease." Infection, trauma to heart problems, dehydration, sickle cell disease can be the most common cause of stroke at a young age.

Decreased intake or supply blood to the brain results in a stroke. Ischemic stroke is a common cause, because of blood clots in the heart or blood vessels. Another cause is surgical blood vessels in the neck, where clots are caused by small tears in large blood vessels and blood is sent to the brain. Migraines, birth control pills, pregnancy, and smoking are also identified as causes of young strokes. According to researchers from France, hormonal changes that occur at a young age, especially hormones that make a person tall, can increase the risk of two to five times.

The Collaborative Group for the Study of Stroke in Young Women suggests that birth control pills can increase the risk if taken by women who have high blood pressure or migraines, especially if the woman is a heavy smoker. This is because contraceptive pills change platelet aggregation, thereby increasing the activity of antithrombin III, resulting in freezing at a certain level. Pregnancy is also able to increase about 13 times the risk of ischemic stroke in women.

Cardiogenic can also be a trigger. Cardiogenic is heart disease, heart valve abnormalities, patent foramen ovale - This is a hole in the heart on the right and left side. Even obesity and alcoholism can cause heart problems that make you stroke. Amphetamine type drugs, including cocaine, meth, marijuana are also things that need to be avoided.

Symptoms of stroke that can be identified

There are a number of symptoms that can be noticed, to make it easier, usually called "FAST“:

F: Face (face), how to bow your face, try to smile. If you cannot lift both sides of your mouth, then maybe something is wrong.

A: Arm(arms), try to lift your arms. If one of your hands falls down, you need to be alert.

S: Speech(talk), try to speak, say easy sentences. If there are oddities in word pronunciation, such as sudden slurred, then you must immediately analyze other symptoms.

T: Time(time), if all of your symptoms are experienced, then don't waste any more time, immediately go to the doctor!

How to prevent stroke at a young age?

Being overweight is one of the causes that must be avoided, because being overweight can lead to high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Indeed, the disease can also be reduced through genes. However, by eating unhealthy foods, you will increase your risk twice. There are several other ways, such as:

Regular exercise for your body's health and maintaining a stable body weight. Sports are also able to burn fat and calories, so there is no blockage in the blood vessels due to saturated fats that gather.
Diets eat low-fat foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Monitor your blood pressure at all times, so you know what to do if your blood pressure is high. Also check your cholesterol level.
Avoid smoking, drugs and alcohol.
Visit a doctor for further consultation.

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