Stroke in teenagers

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - While the world records the average age for stroke onset as 70-75, in Vietnam, many hospitals are receiving new patients as young as 50, or even under 20.

"Sitting in the morning briefing, looking back at the list of 49 new stroke patients admitted yesterday, nearly 50% were under 56 years old."

The post by Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Huy Thang, Head of the Department of Cerebrovascular Pathology, People's Hospital 115 (Ho Chi Minh City), has shocked many people regarding the current state of stroke.

For a long time, stroke has been labeled a "disease of the elderly." However, in reality, the age at which people suffer from this disease is shifting to younger ages.

Many stroke patients at People's Hospital 115 are under 56 years old (Photo: Doctor).

He had a stroke at the age of 15.

Recalling the cases he received recently, Associate Professor Thang cannot forget two particularly special cases, both only 15 years old. The two patients, one male and one female, were admitted to the hospital with typical signs of stroke such as hemiplegia, facial asymmetry, and slurred speech.

For the female patient, thanks to her family's early detection of abnormal symptoms, she was quickly taken to the emergency room at People's Hospital 115 and received timely intervention.

Unlike the case above, the other male patient was taken to a lower-level medical facility where the cause could not be determined. Only when his condition worsened and his symptoms did not improve after 2-3 days did his family transfer him to People's Hospital 115.

After consultation, both patients were diagnosed with cerebral artery stenosis, which obstructed blood flow to the brain, leading to stroke. Following thrombectomy and intensive treatment, both recovered.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Huy Thang, the phenomenon of young people suffering strokes is no longer an isolated case but is becoming an alarming trend, especially in developing countries like Vietnam.

The younger age of stroke patients is an alarming trend both globally and in Vietnam. (Illustrative image: iStock)

Stroke patients in Vietnam are much younger than in the rest of the world.

Each year, the world sees more than 14 million new cases of stroke, causing the deaths of 6.5 million people. On average, one person suffers a stroke every three seconds globally.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and studies from Oxford University and Yale School of Medicine, the average age of stroke onset in the general population ranges from 70 to 75 years old. This number may vary depending on geographic location, gender, and risk factors.

In Vietnam, WHO statistics for 2020 recorded nearly 160,000 deaths due to stroke, including cerebral ischemia and cerebral hemorrhage. Of these, approximately 2,300 patients enrolled in RES-Q – the first global study to improve the quality of stroke units – were around 60 years old.

"This means that the age at which stroke occurs in Vietnam is about 10 years lower than in developed countries. In other words, stroke patients in Vietnam are younger," Associate Professor Thang emphasized.

According to Dr. Thang, the increasing rate of stroke among young people in developing countries is a worrying issue, not unique to Vietnam, but stemming from various causes.

He stated that an increasing number of young people are developing underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia – leading risk factors for stroke. Worryingly, these conditions are appearing at increasingly younger ages.

"The main causes are a sedentary lifestyle, an unhealthy diet (lots of fast food, few vegetables), and obesity – a disease that is becoming increasingly common in the context of modernization," he stated.

Furthermore, rapid urbanization has also changed the lifestyles of young people. They face prolonged stress from work, studies, and city life, making them more prone to smoking, drinking alcohol, and using stimulants. All of these contribute to vascular damage and increase the risk of stroke.

The expert also warned about the insidious but serious effects of air pollution – a common problem in large cities.

"In many major cities in developing countries, air pollution has reached alarming levels. Recent studies also suggest a link between environmental pollution and an increased risk of stroke," he shared.

Another problem is the limited access to healthcare services in many areas. Screening systems for conditions like hypertension and diabetes are not very effective. Many young people suffer strokes without knowing they had underlying health conditions, and by the time they are diagnosed, it is often too late.

In addition, genetic and racial factors also contribute to increased risk. Certain population groups already have a high risk of cerebrovascular disease, and when combined with an unhealthy lifestyle, this increases the risk of stroke, leading to earlier and more severe cases.

Ultimately, what worries Associate Professor Thang the most is that many young people have absolutely no awareness of stroke.

"Many people have a complacent attitude, thinking that strokes only occur in older adults. This can lead to delays in seeking emergency medical care, increasing the mortality rate or serious complications," Dr. Thang emphasized.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/dot-quy-o-tuoi-thieu-nien-20250514020232195.htm