According to reports, the risk of stroke is increasing in young adults
HOUSTON- May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and in addition to raising awareness about stroke, doctors are looking for answers as to why strokes occur in younger patients.
The American Stroke Association reports more strokes among adults under 50 years of age. A Houston doctor says he doesn’t know exactly why this is happening, but believes our lifestyle changes may be an answer.
Daniel Gainer suffered a stroke when he was just 29 years old. “It was my first real health problem, and out of nowhere it just happened” Daniel Gainer.
His wife says it happened unexpectedly.
Daniel Gainer suffered a stroke at the age of 29 (DENISHA BROWN-GAINER)
Strokes in younger adults are on the rise
“It started on the Friday night after Thanksgiving when he was complaining of a really bad headache,” said Denisha Brown-Gainer.
This headache was a stroke that resulted in a cerebral hemorrhage. And after multiple life-saving efforts by HCA Houston Healthcare, 29-year-old Daniel Ganier’s major organs began to fail.
“As Dr. El-Ghanem came, he said the odds weren’t very good. Even if they could fix the problem and stop the bleeding, there would be no guarantee he would survive,” Brown-Gainer said.
Mohammed El-Ghanem, MD at HCA Houston Healthcare, was Daniel Ganier’s doctor.
Daniel Gainer’s doctor says 29 is too young to have a stroke (Joy Addison/Fox News)
“Mrs. Gainer, I’ve been to her twice and I was like, ‘I don’t think he’s going to survive,'” said Dr. El-Ghanem.
Risk of stroke: what you should know
However, doctors managed to stop the bleeding and reverse his organ failure. His doctor says 29 is too young to have a stroke.
The American Stroke Association reports that the incidence of stroke among adults ages 49 and younger in the United States has continued to increase over the past 30 years.
FAST is an acronym that helps identify the signs of a stroke (Joy Addison/Fox News)
Experts fear the coronavirus could lead to strokes in young adults
“About 15% of all strokes occur in adults under the age of 50,” said Tracie Morden of the American Heart and Stroke Association.
Doctors are advising younger people to know the warning signs of a stroke: drooping face, weak arms, difficulty speaking, and time to call 911.
dr El-Ghanem says researchers are still looking for answers, but he has an idea why this might be happening. “I think it’s more because of the unhealthy lives we lead. Lots of junk food, unhealthy eating, people tend not to exercise because of work and busy lives,” Dr. El-Ghanem.
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“Researchers have now studied obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cholesterol levels in younger people, and the prevalence is increasing,” Morden said.
dr El-Ghanem also points out that neglecting health care or regular doctor visits during the pandemic could also be a reason why we are seeing more strokes in younger people.