A recent report indicates that 15% of ischemic strokes occur in adolescents and young adults. Researchers also note that more young people also exhibit the risk factors for ischemic stroke, including smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Jose Biller, Loyola University Medical Center, co-authored the report, which is a consensus statement developed by the Academy of Neurology. “The impact of strokes in this age group is devastating to the adolescent or young adult, their families, and society,” Biller says.
The report suggests that strokes in young people may also have a disproportionally large economic impact, as they disable patients prior to their most productive years. To combat this, researchers emphasize the need to teach young people about stroke and its factors, as well as warning signs in schools, the workplace, in primary care physicians’ offices, and the media.
Source: Loyola University Health System
