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2011-09-02 10:41:21
More children and young adults in the US are having strokes - with unhealthy
lifestyles being a likely cause, scientists have said.
Researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysed
hospital data on up to eight million patients a year between 1995 and 2008.
In Annals of Neurology, they say stroke rates in five to 44-year-olds rose by
about a third in under 10 years.
Higher blood pressure, diabetes and obesity were common in stroke patients.
The researchers looked at figures for ischemic stroke, due to blood clots, and
haemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by bleeding on the brain.
The rate of ischemic stroke increased by 31% in five to 14-year-olds, from 3.2
strokes per 10,000 hospital cases to 4.2 per 10,000.
There were increases of 30% for people aged 15 to 34 and 37% in patients
between the ages of 35 and 44.
In all age groups the increase was greater in men than in women.
Figures for haemorrhagic stroke showed decreases in age groups except the five
to 14-year-olds, but the researchers said: "The increase in ischemic stroke far
outweighs the decreases."
Health initiatives
The report said the prevalence of hypertension, obesity and tobacco use had
increased in stroke patients.
Stroke Symptoms
The face can drop on one side - unable to smile or eye might droop
Unable to lift one or both arms
Slurred or garbled speech
Source: NHS choices
More than half of 35 to 44-year-olds who had an ischemic stroke also had
hypertension.
"Urgent public health initiatives are needed to reverse trends in modifiable
risk factors associated with stroke in adolescents and young adults," the
report concludes.
Dr Lorna Layward, from the Stroke Association in the UK, said: "People usually
associate strokes with older people, but a quarter of all strokes happen to
people of working age, and around 400 children have a stroke every year in the
UK.
"We know that high blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for stroke, along
with other factors such as obesity, diabetes, poor diet and smoking.
"This research emphasises the need for people to be aware that stroke can
affect younger people, and for all of us, regardless of our age, to check our
blood pressure and adopt a healthy lifestyle."