AUSTIN (KXAN) — Researchers are looking into why stroke rates seem to be rising among young people, or those under the age of 55.
A study of more than 94,000 people found a 67% increase in stroke incidence among younger adults, while there was a 15% decrease among older adults.
“It does seem like the risk of stroke is going up for some younger people, I think it’s all due to the same risk factors, actually,” said Dr. Clinton Wright a Vascular Neurologist and Associate Director of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Every year, more than 800,000 people suffer a stroke.
“The most common risk factors for stroke are things like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking,” along with obesity, Dr. Wright said.
“We have an obesity problem in the United States. And obesity actually causes hypertension, and diabetes. So, all of those things together mean that the younger population is starting to be affected.”
Experts say strokes are the leading cause of death in the United States and cause more serious long-term disabilities than any other disease.
That’s the why Dr. Wright along with The National Institutes of Health are encouraging people act quickly at the symptoms of a stroke through acronym F.A.S.T.
“We have an acronym to help people remember the symptoms, and that is F.A.S.T, which stands for face, arm, speech, and then the T stands for time,” said Dr. Wright.
- Face: Does one side of the face droop?
- Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb?
- Speech: Is speech slurred or difficult to understand?
- Time: Call 911 immediately
Additional signs of stroke include:
- Sudden NUMBNESS or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes
- Sudden TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause
Dr. Wright also stressed that strokes are preventable and you can lower your risk by “having a healthy diet, regular exercise, it’s very important for people to get exercise and both resistance training, and cardiac training.”
