Why the number of strokes in young people is increasing: doctors' opinion

Stroke has long been considered a disease of the elderly, but in recent years, doctors have been increasingly recording it in people under 45. This alarming trend is becoming more noticeable in different countries, including the post-Soviet space.

Medical professionals are sounding the alarm: stroke is "getting younger," and the causes lie not only in heredity but also in the lifestyle of the modern generation.

Stress and chronic fatigue

Modern youth live in constant tension: high competition, instability, pressure from social networks. All this provokes chronic stress, which can cause narrowing of blood vessels and disrupt blood circulation in the brain. The lack of proper rest only exacerbates the situation.

Sleep disorders

Sleep deprivation, night work, gadgets before bedtime - all this destroys natural biorhythms. Lack of sleep directly affects the cardiovascular system, increases the risk of thrombosis and cerebral circulation disorders.

Hypertension in young people

While high blood pressure used to be characteristic of older people, today it is increasingly diagnosed in 20-30-year-olds. Often hypertension is asymptomatic, and a person learns about it only after a stroke.

Poor nutrition and obesity

Fast food, sugary drinks, excess salt and sugar - all this increases cholesterol levels, contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels. Excess weight, especially abdominal obesity, is also directly associated with an increased risk of stroke.

Bad habits

Smoking, vaping, alcohol and drug abuse accelerate vascular wear. The combination of energy drinks and alcohol is particularly dangerous - such a mixture sharply increases blood pressure and can trigger a stroke even in a seemingly completely healthy person.

Online addiction and sedentary lifestyle

Many young people spend hours in front of a computer or smartphone, forgetting about physical activity. Lack of movement slows blood flow, provokes blood clot formation, and weakens blood vessels.

COVID-19 and post-COVID consequences

Coronavirus infection has left a mark on the health of many young people. Doctors note an increase in vascular complications, including strokes, in patients who have had the disease. This may be related to inflammatory processes in blood vessels and blood clotting disorders.

Doctors' conclusion

Stroke in young people is not a rarity but a new reality. However, in most cases, it can be prevented. Prevention includes blood pressure control, avoiding bad habits, healthy eating, regular check-ups, and, of course, physical activity. The main thing is not to ignore the alarming signals from the body: headaches, numbness of limbs, speech or vision impairment even in young people should not be left unattended.