Imagine the typical stroke patient -- graying hair... maybe a grandparent... certainly elderly. But a new study of strokes wrinkles that image. Dr. Brett Kissela, University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute. "The average age of stroke is declining and a greater proportion of young people are having stroke."
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati analyzed stroke trends for those living around the greater Cincinnati region. "We found a somewhat alarming trend."
Since the 1990s -- the percentage of stroke patients between the ages of 20 and 45 increased from 4 to more than 7-percent. Why? "Diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity are getting more and more common in young people."
Doctors say high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for having a stroke -- a condition that's easily detected and often treatable. The study also found fewer strokes among people over age 75.
That's an improvement doctors attribute to better awareness of stroke -- which now may need to reach a younger crowd.
Symptoms of a stroke include weakness or numbness on one side of the body, slurring of speech, and trouble understanding what people are saying to you. Any of those signs requires a quick call to 9-1-1.
The research was presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in San Antonio.
