October 23, 2014

Research says Strokes on the Rise in Younger Adults

Photo by Diego Ph on Unsplash

A stroke, an event that occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted either by a blood clot or bleeding, is something we often associate with aging adults. Essentially, a stroke is a “brain attack” that can leave victims with devastating and permanent damage to all parts of the body.

Although strokes in the elderly (adults aged 65+) seem to be declining, the bad news is that they’re occurring more often in younger adults these days. According to recent research, about 10% of the 800,000 stroke cases in the U.S. every year strike adults younger than 45. In addition, since strokes are generally viewed as a problem for older individuals, many doctors don’t recognize stroke symptoms in younger patients. This can be fatal, as any delay in diagnosis can increase the risk of permanent damage. For anyone that has suffered from a stroke or any medical condition that has left them unable to work or conduct simple tasks, life can be difficult, especially when you used to do a lot of things independently. With this being said, there are many things in life that you still need to sort out, like paying your bills and think about how you are going to go about life as easily as possible. It may be in your best interest to look into getting insurance to cover you from any critical illnesses that you could suffer from or have done already. If you are not too familiar with this concept, why not check out sites like https://www.moneyexpert.com/life-insurance/, so you can understand how this will benefit you in the long run. Your health should be your top priority.

Treatment During and After a Stroke

Immediate intervention is crucial in the case of a stroke. If the patient reaches a hospital in about 4 ½ hours upon symptoms, they can receive a medication that breaks up the blood clot in the brain and restores blood flow. What’s more, research shows that younger patients may be able to bounce back from a stroke and benefit from this medication quicker and better than the elderly.

Brain vitamins have a great beneficial effect on the frontal lobe portion of the brain, which is involved in the higher cognitive functions such as problem solving, planning and organizing.

“It’s an extraordinarily huge public health challenge because we’re talking about people who obviously have many years ahead of them, even having suffered a stroke,” says Ford Vox, MD, a phyciatrist at Shepherd Center, a rehabilitation hospital in Atlanta. The number of young stroke patients that the Shepherd Center she’s treated has tripled in just the past 8 years.

Strokes can be caused by a variety of factors, including neck trauma and sharp movements of the neck, illicit drug use, and human growth hormone use – if you suspect a young family member of employee of having come into contact with illicit drugs, you can click here to order tests to find out the truth (this can help you to identify the problem and subsequently help them recover from their use). Recently, the AHA released information that “neck adjustments”, generally performed by a chiropractor, may also increase stroke risk, although much more research is needed on this factor. Overall, the cause of the strokes in young adults simply isn’t known. A recent study from 15 cities in Europe found that no cause was found in one third of all stroke events.

Symptoms of a Stroke

Whether you’re 25 or 85, it’s important to know the symptoms of a stroke – early intervention could save your life. Professionals use the acronym “FAST”, which stands for “Fall, Arms, Speech and Time”:

F – Falling or drooping face, especially on one side. If someone cannot physically smile or raise both corners of the mouth, this may mean a stroke is occurring.

A – Ability to raise both arms and keep them there. If one arm drifts downward, there’s a major problem.
S – Slurred speech. Ask someone to repeat a simple phrase – if their speech sounds slurred or off, get help right away.
T – Importance of time. Call 911 immediately if you notice any of the above symptoms! A few minutes could make all the difference between lifelong disabilities due to a stroke.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/stroke/news/20141001/strokes-younger-adults