INCREASED RATE OF STROKE DEVELOPMENT THREATENING YOUNGSTERS

The second largest cause of mortality globally is Stroke, shows a WHO report. Around, 13 million population becomes prey to the disease each year and annually 5.5 million population die due to it roughly. In every 40 seconds, one gets a stroke in India which makes the whole scenario alarming.

A stroke is defined as a transient ischemic attack or a cerebrovascular accident that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is blocked which prevents the brain from getting the optimum oxygen and nutrients from the blood. Due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die within minutes causing lasting brain damage, long-term disability, and even death.

In a recent study, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) noted that, despite the disease's lower prevalence, young adults still experience 10-15% of all strokes, which result in close to one-fifth of hospitalizations and can have a devastating effect on a young person's productive years.

The most common type of stroke is an ischemic stroke caused by a blockage in the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. The other predominant causes of stroke among youngsters include –

Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) - This happens when there is bleeding in an area between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater that surrounds the brain. Aneurysmal rupture is the most common cause of SAH.

Intracranial haemorrhage - It happens when the blood vessels within the brain parenchyma rupture or leak. Hypertension is the most common cause. These two causes have been found to affect more young adults (40-55%) when compared with the general stroke population (15-20%).

Stroke symptoms can range from slight weakness to complete paralysis on one side of the body or face. FAST, which stands for Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time, is the acronym used by children to describe a stroke. Using this acronym, we can identify stroke and take prompt action during its prime.

Additionally, sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding, difficulty seeing in one or both eyes, loss of coordination or balance, dizziness, difficulty walking, and sudden, severe headaches with no apparent cause are signs and symptoms of stroke in children.

The primary factor contributing to the rise in stroke cases today is an increase in sedentary behaviour. A stroke can be brought on by a number of risk factors including smoking, alcoholism, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, past history of stroke, family history, rheumatic heart disease with atrial fibrillation, and oral contraceptives (2–5 fold increased risk for women).

Some of the most frequent factors contributing to an increase in stroke cases among children and adolescents are stress, lack of sleep, and consumption of packaged foods.

Reduce your salt intake and adopt a healthy diet in order to lower your risk of developing hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol, which are all well-known risk factors for stroke. To combat problems like obesity, engage in consistent physical activity for at least 30 minutes each day to reduce your risk of stroke.

Losing weight can help lower blood pressure and can help the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and bones recover from stress. Smoking should be avoided or stopped because it increases one's risk of stroke by two to four times compared to non-smokers.

If you have diabetes, you should check your blood sugar levels frequently, take your medication, and see a doctor every few months. In order to avoid having another stroke if you've already had one, you must carefully take the medications that your doctor has prescribed.

Knowing the right signs and symptoms and increasing awareness of your nearby surroundings can help in saving several lives. If your loved one or a person near you has suffered a stroke then you must immediately take them to the hospital with the Stroke unit and Cath lab (Brain Angio and Mechanical Thrombectomy can be done) as "Every minute is precious" during this time and it can help in saving their life.