Stroke Risk: Can It Happen To Young People?

how early can a person have a stroke

Strokes are a serious medical condition that can cause lifelong damage or even death. They occur when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, typically due to a blood clot or blocked artery. While strokes are often associated with older individuals, people in their 20s, 30s, or 40s can also experience strokes. In fact, 15% of ischemic strokes occur in individuals aged 18 to 55. Recognizing the early warning signs of a stroke is crucial, as timely treatment can significantly improve the chances of recovery.

Characteristics Values
How early can warning signs occur? Up to seven days before a stroke
Most common symptoms Face drooping, arm weakness, speech problems
Other symptoms Loss of balance, severe headache, impaired vision, confusion, nausea, vomiting, vertigo
Risk factors Alcohol consumption, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, obesity, hypertension, heart disease, pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, low physical activity, smoking

medshun

Warning signs: Numbness, vision impairment, speech difficulty, dizziness, and severe headaches

Warning Signs of Stroke

Numbness

Numbness is a common symptom of stroke, often affecting the face, arm, or leg, and usually on one side of the body. To identify numbness in the face, ask the person to smile. If their smile is uneven, this could be a sign of a stroke. To identify numbness in the arm, ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downward, this could be a sign of a stroke.

Vision Impairment

Vision problems are often associated with strokes, as they can affect the visual pathways in the eye and the parts of the brain that process visual information. Some common visual symptoms of stroke include:

  • Visual field loss: Loss of part or whole sections of the visual field in both eyes, causing difficulties with locating things, coping with traffic, or navigating crowded environments.
  • Eye movement problems: Weakness in the eye muscles can lead to blurred vision, double vision, or difficulty following objects with the eyes.
  • Visual processing problems: Difficulty making sense of what is seen, such as recognizing objects or people, or experiencing visual hallucinations.

Speech Difficulty

Speech difficulty, also known as dysarthria, is a common sign of stroke. Speech may become slurred, and the person may have trouble speaking or understanding speech.

Dizziness

Dizziness is another symptom of stroke, often accompanied by loss of balance or coordination.

Severe Headaches

Severe headaches with no known cause can be an initial sign of stroke. Headaches associated with stroke may be throbbing or continuous and non-throbbing, and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and photophobia.

medshun

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): A mini-stroke or warning stroke that can precede a major stroke

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is often referred to as a "mini-stroke" or a "warning stroke". It is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain, usually caused by a blood clot or blocked artery, that can precede a major stroke. While the symptoms of a TIA are temporary and usually last less than five minutes, it is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

During a TIA, the blood vessel is temporarily blocked, causing a lack of blood flow to the brain. This can lead to brain cell malfunction and, eventually, cell death if the blood supply is not restored. The symptoms of a TIA are similar to those of a stroke and include weakness, numbness, or paralysis on one side of the body, slurred speech or difficulty understanding speech, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, loss of balance or coordination, and a severe headache.

It is important to note that TIAs are warning signs for future strokes. About 4 in 10 people who experience a TIA will go on to have a stroke, with half of those strokes occurring within the first two days after a TIA. Therefore, it is crucial to seek medical help immediately if you experience any symptoms of a TIA, even if they go away on their own.

The immediate consequences of a TIA are typically benign, and the symptoms may disappear within an hour or up to 24 hours. However, a TIA is a strong indicator of a potential full-blown stroke in the near future. The risk of a stroke increases with age, with stroke rates doubling every 10 years after the age of 55. Other major risk factors for a TIA or stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and smoking.

To diagnose a TIA, a healthcare provider will assess the patient's symptoms, medical history, and perform imaging scans such as a CT scan or an MRI scan to evaluate the blood flow and tissue within the brain. It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after experiencing any stroke-like symptoms, as quick treatment can help prevent a full-blown stroke and save lives.

medshun

Risk factors: Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, alcohol consumption, and smoking

Obesity

Obesity is a well-known risk factor for stroke. It is associated with various microvascular and macrovascular changes that can lead to major clinical complications, including stroke. The recent rise in obesity rates worldwide has contributed to an increase in diabetes, which is another risk factor for stroke. Obesity is linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which accounts for about 90% of diabetes cases. Type 2 diabetes is more likely to lead to obesity, peripheral arterial disease, large-artery atherosclerosis, and stroke.

Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a significant risk factor for stroke. It damages arteries throughout the body, creating conditions that can make arteries burst or clog easily. Weakened or blocked arteries in the brain increase the risk of stroke. Therefore, managing high blood pressure is crucial to reducing the risk of stroke. Most people who have had their first stroke also had high blood pressure.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a well-established independent but modifiable risk factor for stroke, including both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Individuals with diabetes are more susceptible to the consequences of cerebral small vessel diseases and have a higher risk of stroke occurrence. Diabetes can cause pathologic changes in blood vessels, leading to stroke if cerebral vessels are directly affected. Additionally, uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.

Heart disease

Heart disease is a group of cardiovascular diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels. It is the leading cause of death for both men and women. While genetics and family history play a role in heart disease risk, other risk factors include obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Heart disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet and regular exercise, can help prevent or reduce the risk of heart disease and associated complications such as stroke.

Alcohol consumption

Alcohol consumption is linked to an increased risk of stroke. In general, excessive alcohol intake is associated with a higher risk of stroke development. However, moderate alcohol consumption (less than one drink per day) may offer some protection against ischemic stroke compared to higher amounts. Excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to hypertension, which is a direct risk factor for stroke. Additionally, alcohol can cause certain heart problems and inhibit coagulation, both of which increase the risk of stroke.

Smoking

Cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for all forms of stroke. It is associated with a strong dose-response relationship, meaning that the more cigarettes smoked, the higher the risk of stroke. Smoking increases the risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. It predisposes individuals to large- and small-vessel lacunar stroke by promoting the development of atherosclerosis and arterial damage. Smoking also induces a global circulatory procoagulant state, increases fibrinogen concentration, and reduces fibrinolytic activity, all of which contribute to stroke risk.

medshun

Prevention: Maintaining a healthy diet and weight, exercising regularly, and avoiding unhealthy habits

Maintaining a healthy diet and weight, exercising regularly, and avoiding unhealthy habits are crucial steps in stroke prevention. Here are some detailed guidelines to help you reduce your risk of stroke:

Maintaining a Healthy Diet

  • Choose healthy meals and snacks: Opt for foods low in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium (salt). Aim for a diet high in fiber and fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Prevent high cholesterol: Consume foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. High cholesterol, often symptomless, can increase your chances of having a stroke.
  • Limit salt intake: Reducing sodium in your diet can help lower your blood pressure. High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for stroke.
  • Monitor your weight: Calculate your body mass index (BMI) to ensure your weight is within a healthy range. Excess body weight increases your risk of stroke. Doctors may also use waist and hip measurements to assess excess body fat.

Exercising Regularly

  • Adults: The surgeon general recommends at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. Brisk walking is an excellent example of this type of exercise.
  • Children and teens: Aim for 1 hour of physical activity every day.

Avoiding Unhealthy Habits

  • Avoid smoking: Cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of stroke. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you're a smoker, quitting will reduce your chances of having a stroke. Consult your doctor for advice on smoking cessation.
  • Limit alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol intake can raise your blood pressure. Men should not exceed two drinks per day, and women should limit themselves to one drink per day.

Remember, making these healthy lifestyle choices can significantly reduce your risk of stroke. Consult your doctor to discuss specific steps and strategies suitable for your situation.

medshun

Treatment: Clot-busting drugs, surgery to remove clots or stop bleeding, and rehabilitation

For those who have suffered a stroke, treatment options are available to dissolve or remove blood clots and stop bleeding in the brain. These include clot-busting drugs, surgery, and rehabilitation.

Clot-busting drugs, such as TPA (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator), are used to break up clots causing blockages in the blood flow to the brain. TPA is given intravenously (IV) and works to dissolve the clot and restore blood flow. This treatment is effective within four and a half hours of the onset of a stroke, resulting in a cure for 1 out of 10 patients. However, due to the risk of bleeding into the brain, a CAT scan is required to determine if TPA is a suitable treatment option.

Surgery can also be employed to remove clots or stop bleeding in the brain. For ischemic strokes, surgeons may use suction catheters or a stent retriever to remove clots, restore blood flow, and open blocked arteries. In cases of hemorrhagic stroke, the first step is to identify the cause of the bleeding in the brain and then control it. One such surgical procedure is a carotid endarterectomy, which involves removing plaque buildup from the carotid artery in the neck to restore blood supply to the brain. Another procedure, aneurysm clipping, involves placing a tiny clamp at the base of an aneurysm to prevent it from rupturing and leaking blood into the brain. Alternatively, coil embolization is a less complex procedure where a doctor inserts a catheter into an artery and threads it to the aneurysm site. A tiny coil is then pushed through the catheter, causing a blood clot to form and block blood flow through the aneurysm.

Finally, rehabilitation plays a crucial role in stroke recovery. While clot-busting drugs and surgery aim to restore blood flow and prevent further damage, rehabilitation focuses on helping individuals regain their physical, cognitive, and speech abilities affected by the stroke. This may include physical therapy to improve mobility and strength, occupational therapy to relearn daily living skills, and speech therapy to address any communication or swallowing difficulties.

Frequently asked questions

Warning signs of a stroke can be detected as early as seven days before an attack. These early warning signs are called pre-strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).

The most common warning signs of a stroke can be remembered with the acronym FAST:

- Face drooping

- Arm weakness

- Speech problems

- Time to call an ambulance

If you notice any of the warning signs of a stroke, it is important to act quickly. Call an ambulance immediately and note the time the symptoms started.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment