Rising Stroke Cases in Young Adults: Reasons for This Worrying Trend, Treatment Tips

Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally and a leading cause of long-term physical and cognitive disability in adults, but stroke is thought to occur primarily in older individuals, with the majority of strokes occurring in people over the age of 65. However, the incidence of stroke among young adults has been increasing in recent years. An Indian study reported an annual stroke incidence of 41 per 100,000 in the 40–44 age group, which is very high.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vishal Chafle, Consultant Interventional Neurology at Apollo Hospital, Navi Mumbai, shared, “Factors contributing to this increase include hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, diabetes mellitus, smoking and obesity similar to the general population. Heart is involved. Disease. Today, work stress, sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits are significantly contributing to the increase in these non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Many young people spend hours in front of screens for work and leisure, exercise infrequently, and choose convenience foods that are high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, a lifestyle that puts them at risk for NCDs. Takes away.

“A holistic approach will help mitigate these variable risks,” he advised. This includes tight control of blood pressure, better control of blood sugar levels in diabetic patients and lifestyle modifications along with changes in diet. Smoking and consumption of other intoxicants will have to be stopped. Awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and regular health checkups are also important to prevent stroke in young adults.

Dr Annu Aggarwal, consultant neurologist specialist in cognitive and behavioral neurology at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, revealed, “There are 12.2 million strokes every year across the world. This means 1 stroke every 3 seconds. Stroke statistics: One in four people will have a stroke in their lifetime. Stroke is no longer a disease of the elderly – 63% of strokes occurred in people under 70 years of age. 10–15% of all strokes occur in adults aged 18–50.

He listed the causes of stroke in youth as follows:

1. Although traditionally high blood pressure, diabetes etc. are considered diseases of the elderly. It is increasingly being recognized that young adults develop these diseases, increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack even at an earlier age.
2. There are 11 risk factors: high systolic pressure, high BMI, high fasting blood sugar, air pollution, smoking, poor diet (high fat, high carbohydrate, low protein), high LDL cholesterol, kidney dysfunction, alcohol use, low physical activity , Compromised sleep.
3. Sedentary lifestyle is now the “new smoking”

According to Dr. Annu Aggarwal, other causes of stroke in youth are –

1. Recreational drug abuse: For example, cocaine (big rush, happy stuff, happy dust, paradise, nose candy), cocaine + marihuana (candy sticks), cocaine + heroin (braches, speed ball), cocaine + methamphetamine (crock ), Cocaine + Tobacco (Kuli), Methcathinone (KAT), Ecstasy etc.
2. Trauma to the neck resulting in injury to the blood vessels of the brain (dissection), for example after road traffic accidents, adventure sports, diving in swimming pools, etc., especially if safety precautions are not followed such as seat belts, helmet.
3. rare blood clotting disorders
4. Structural defects in the heart valves and heart wall (holes in the heart, such as atrial septal defect)
5. some heart arrhinia
6. Some infections like HIV, herpes virus infection, COVID-19 strains during the first wave in 2020
7. Rarely autoimmune mediated inflammation of the brain walls (vasculitis) or several rheumatological conditions.

Dr. Annu Aggarwal suggested the following treatments:

• The first three hours after a stroke are the golden hours and if patients arrive at stroke-prepared hospitals, many strokes can be reversed with appropriate treatment.
• Stroke and heart attack can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle and diet and periodic health checkups. It is never too early nor too late to adopt these measures.

Dr Rajesh Jaria, consultant internal medicine at PD Hinduja Hospital and MRC in Khar, said, “Science believes in the theory of evolution and hopes that it will always believe. In India, religion is at the forefront by marginalizing science. The pandemic similarly pushed science back in many parts of the world and brought superstition to the fore. One has to live in pain and suffering, declaring as useful what is actually effective and throwing away what does not provide relief. Science continues to dominate and indeed overtake human involvement and control of life, as it initially slowly, but steadily, provided a significant improvement in QoL, as it gained momentum, all of life aspects included.

He elaborated, “This ubiquitous phenomenon has reduced the stress of life, but like all good things, negativity also comes with positivity. Hand-grinding wheat flour at home replaced machine-operated mills. Human walking gave way to easily accessible autorickshaws. The earlier man who used to walk 20 kilometers a day was replaced by a man who hardly walked at all. The above information will definitely give rise to guilt. Internally humans have a tendency to blame themselves. I am fat so I am sick, I did not control my eating habits so I have heart disease. Oddly enough, people also take pride in being ‘foodies’.”

Describing atherosclerosis as a common pathway leading to heart disease, Dr. Rajesh Jaria said, “The belief is that if one exercises, eats less, has self-control and does not lead a sedentary lifestyle, That will prevent atherosclerosis and hence heart disease. The causes of atherosclerosis are multifactorial: genetics, environment, infection, and partly lifestyle, influencing its development and evolution in humans. Lifestyle alone cannot prevent, control, or delay atherosclerosis. If LSM is to play an important role in reducing heart disease it needs to be consistent, sustained and developed from an early age. Like in earlier days, even a five-year-old child would walk 10 kilometers to go to school. Then as he grew up, he covered a distance of 20 kilometers a day and his poverty ensured frugal food, low fat and high vegetable protein.

They conclude, “Animal protein was included in their diet as a rare treat, then as a daily routine. This natural element of ‘lifestyle modification’ incorporated into everyday life from an early age and maintained throughout life will reduce the incidence of heart disease. This will not make the risk zero. This natural, intrinsic, daily routine lifestyle modification should be a desirable quality of living that helps in reducing the risk of heart disease.