Stroke—It Can Happen to Anyone!
May is recognized as National Stroke Awareness Month, and this year, the
campaign is highlighting the growing number of stroke incidents among
young people. Through the years, stroke has been known to happen only
to people who are 65 years or older. While it is true that stroke risk
increases with age, stroke can happen to anyone, at any age, and at any
time. In fact, statistics show that there is a 44% increase in the number
of young Americans that were hospitalized due to stroke in the last decade.
Common causes of stroke in young people:
- Heart problems such as heart disease, heart valve abnormalities, hole in
the heart, etc.
- Drug use
- Obesity
- Sickle cell disease
- Autoimmune disease
- Diseases of the arteries
It can be especially difficult when stroke happens among the younger population
because many of them don’t really recognize their symptoms or would
just simply ignore them. The effects are also significantly greater when
it comes to young stroke since they have to live with the debilitating
physical effects for a longer period of time, resulting in financial challenges.
It is estimated that the lifetime cost of a stroke in a young adult is
over $500,000.
Young People Common Stroke Symptoms
In a stroke incident, time is your friend. That’s why no matter what
your age is, it’s important to know what to look for in case of
a stroke so the victim may be treated urgently. The National Stroke Association
recommends that you use F.A.S.T. to remember the warning signs of stroke.
F.A.S.T. stands for the following:
-
F is Face- Does one side of the face droop?
-
A is for Arm- Does one arm drift downward or feels numb?
-
S is for Speech- Is the victim’s speech slurred or incoherent?
-
T is for Time- If you have observed any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
If you live by yourself, recognizing the different symptoms of stroke can
be especially crucial. Listen to your body and never ignore the warning
signs. Remember, it’s better to have gone to the hospital and find
out that there’s nothing wrong with you than suffer the consequences
because you were too late.
Show Your Support for This Campaign
There are many activities on stroke awareness that you can participate
in to show your support not just this May but all throughout the year.
The website of the National Stroke Association has created ready-to-use
messages that you can post on your social media sites including a special
profile picture or banner that you can share among your network. You may
also check out some of the different local events near you that are geared
towards raising stroke awareness.
This article contains general information about medical conditions and
treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as
such. The information is not intended to replace the advice or diagnosis
of a physician.
If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should
consult your doctor or other professional healthcare providers.