Why Is Stroke Increasingly Seen in Younger People?

A stroke is a kind of blood vessel or cerebrovascular disorder. It can be categorized as ischemic or caused by insufficient blood flow, and hemorrhagic, caused by bleeding into the brain.

Dr. Rigved Tadwalker, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in California, explained to Inside Edition that strokes are common in older people but can also happen among younger people. Cases of stroke among young people have been increasing. Tadwalker explained the data after a news anchor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Julie Chin, started suffering the beginning of a stroke while reporting about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on a live telecast.

Chin started to stutter, unable to utter the words she was reading from a teleprompter. She was seen as confused and began repeating words. She admitted losing her vision before her hand and arm went numb.

In the United States, strokes are the fifth leading cause of death, according to the American Stroke Association. It occurs when a blood vessel that bears oxygen to the brain is either blocked or bursts.

Stroke strikes young adults, which may include children

Although strokes in young adults are uncommon, they leave a huge impact, making the stroke patient disabled before their most productive years. According to the outlet, stroke among the young comprises 10- to 15 percent of all stroke patients.

Younger patients have shown modifiable risk factors for stroke, such as dyslipidemia, smoking, heavy drinking, diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. These are prevalent in the young stroke population regardless of the difference in geographic, climatic, nutritional, lifestyle, or even genetic diversity. Young adults have a clearly increased risk of death compared with the general population. Dr. Tadwalker says the main reason for stroke among younger women is the use of oral contraceptives and other factors associated with it. He noted that younger people have risk factors for stroke that professionals and health care providers hadn't seen in the past.

According to the National Library of Medicine, stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. It caused approximately 5.7 million deaths in 2005, and the global number of deaths is expected to increase to 6.5 million in 2015 and 7.8 million in 2030.

Strokes in young people are on the rise

Around 70,000 Americans aged below 45 sustain strokes annually. Dr. Blake Buletko says he has seen many younger people ignoring the stroke symptoms, believing it won't happen to them because they are too young and consider themselves healthy. Dr. Buletko informs the public that knowing the early signs and symptoms of a stroke and seeking help immediately can prevent it.

Usually, stroke among the younger population is due to illicit drug use and genetic conditions. However, the cause of stroke in young ones mirrors the causes in adults. Dr. Blake suggests taking the crucial steps to prevent having a stroke which are modifying the risk factors and having a healthy lifestyle, per Cleveland Clinic.