Strokes More Common in Younger People

A report in the journal Neurology reveals that stroke rates among white mails aged 20-55 almost doubled in the past twenty years. Though the report doesn’t specify a clear cause, most speculate that the reason for this sudden spike is the more at-risk lifestyle lead by young Americans. Risk factors for strokes include obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure which are growing problems all across the United States. Symptoms can include mild blurry vision, slight weakness and numbness. Though many are quick to point out that prior to 1993 and the rise of MRI usage, doctors might not have associated these symptoms with strokes. The study was based on nearly 5,900 Ohio and Kentucky adults who suffered a first-time stroke between 1993 and 2005. Over that time, 20 to 54-year-olds accounted for a growing proportion of strokes – from 13 percent in 1993 to almost 19 percent by 2005. From 1993-1994, only 18 percent of all stroke patients in their study had an MRI. By 2005, that figure had risen to 58 percent. This is a good sign for early detection as modern brain imaging technology is able to detect smaller strokes. Doctors still stress that healthy living is the best way to avoid these strokes, small or not and early detection is still key to saving lives. (Source: Reuters)