In the past few decades, cases of strokes have been increasing exponentially. It is the second leading cause of death for people above 60 years of age. 15 million people suffer worldwide from stroke. Mortality rate due to stroke is about 38% which is alarming. Nowadays, it is not the only risky for the elderly but can occur at any age. In the age group of 15-59 years, it is the fifth leading cause of death. It may be caused due to congenital abnormalities of blood vessels that cause intracranial hemorrhage. Sedentary lifestyle has led to an increase in such ailments. The r risk factors that cause most of the strokes in young people are:
Raised Cholesterol
Increased cholesterol levels can prove fatal as cholesterol may get deposited in the arteries of the brain and cause occlusion. High cholesterol levels may trigger ischemic stroke. About 4.5 % (2.6 million) of the total deaths all over the world occur due to high cholesterol levels.
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is caused when the body is unable to produce enough insulin and glucose level goes up in blood and gives rise to other complications. The artery walls damage due to high Blood Sugar which makes it prone to rupture and cause hemorrhagic stroke. 16% of all diabetic patients suffer from stroke at some point of their ailment
Cardiac Diseases
Cardiac arrest and atherosclerosis increase the risk of infarcts in the brain. Lack of nutrients in the brain may lead to death of brain tissues. Hypertension may also cause hemorrhagic stroke.
Contraceptive pills
Women are at a high risk of stroke due to excessive consumption of contraceptive pills. These pills cause hormonal changes that trigger the clotting of blood. Blood clots in cranium may lead to ischemia. Birth control pills are the reason behind 4 to 5 stroke cases in 100,000 women in the reproductive age.
Excessive alcohol consumption
Consuming alcoholic drinks may cause high Blood Pressure. Alcohol also alters the normal heartbeat and cause fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation leads to the formation of blood clots that may travel to the brain and clog significant arteries of the brain. It increases the risk of stroke in a normal human by five times.
Obesity
Obesity is one of the leading causes of cerebrovascular diseases. Overweight people have abnormal levels of blood fats. These blood fats can accumulate to form fat globules and clog blood vessels in the brain to cause ischemic strokes. Nearly 70% of the population in the U.S are obese and are at high risk of stroke.
The lifestyle today makes the young population exceedingly prone to all these factors and reasons which may result in stroke. It is very important to create awareness among people and motivate them to adapt to a healthier lifestyle.
