What Does It Means "Stroke in the Young"?

Stroke in the Young

There is what is called a "stroke in the young" where young people 40 and below can get stroke.

In the Philippines, stroke is the second most common of the 10 major diseases. About 110 Filipinos die every day from stroke.

Let's find out the possible causes:

1. Unhealthy lifestyle - Because many adolescents have vices such as unhealthy food, cigarettes and alcohol, they are stricken earlier. Even at the age of 20 can suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. This causes stroke.

2. Rheumatic heart disease - Rheumatic heart disease is a disease in which the heart valves are damaged. The most common cause of this is simple tonsillitis, or infection of the tonsils. Bacteria from the tonsils can move to the heart valve and destroy it. To treat tonsillitis, doctors give antibiotics such as Amoxycillin capsules for 7-10 days.

3. Congenital heart disease - Children with congenital heart defects (ASD, VSD and Patent Foramen Ovale) are also at risk for stroke. Blood vessels pass through the heart and cause stroke.

4. Illegal drugs like shabu and cocaine - Do not use drugs. Shabu is a leading cause of stroke in youth. The shabu increases blood pressure and heart rate. The heart and brain (spasm) are also narrowed.

5. Excessive Exercise - When you exercise hard, you will definitely increase your pressure and speed up your heart rate. Sometimes the "pressure" of the nerves in the brain is out of control and it blows.

6. Pregnancy and high blood pressure - Some pregnancies increase as the baby grows into the womb.

7. Blood problems - There are diseases that thicken the patient's blood, causing stroke. Examples are protein S and protein C deficiency, and polycythemia vera.

8. Excessive Hot Place - When it's hot, many people are stroked. Avoid the sun from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

There are other causes of stroke in adolescents such as (1) abnormal atrial fibrillation, (2) abnormal brainstem (cerebral aneurysm), (3) severe migraine, and (4) oral contraceptive pills.

To be safe, check with your doctor regularly.