Neurologist Ekaterina Demyanovskaya reported why acute cerebrovascular accident can occur at a very young age.
Considering stroke as a “disease of old people” is a mistake; sometimes strokes occur at the age of 18.
“From 5 to 14% of strokes occur in people aged 18 to 44,” neurologist Ekaterina Demyanovskaya told RT.
The doctor listed the common factors of such “young” strokes:
- Congenital pathologies of the cerebral vessels;
- Hereditary blood clotting disorders;
- Dissection (delamination) of the walls of the carotid and vertebral arteries and their branches.
Demyanovskaya noted that a stroke at the age of 18-20 years can be a sudden event that is impossible to foresee. Such a pathology can be a consequence of damage or dissection of the vessels feeding the brain, which can be caused by accidental head or neck injuries or muscle strain.
If we talk about predictable strokes, then their occurrence can be assumed in cases where a hypertensive crisis develops – a condition accompanied by a sharp increase in blood pressure to 160 to 100 or higher.
In addition, a transient ischemic attack (microstroke) often indicates the impending development of a stroke.
Symptoms of a transient ischemic attack
- Severe headache;
- Dizziness;
- Weakness on one side of the body;
- Disorientation, prostration;
- Temporary loss of speech or vision.
If this disorder develops, immediate medical attention is required, the neurologist emphasized. In many cases, a real stroke develops after a microstroke within 5 years.
Earlier, the MedikForum.ru portal wrote that neurologist Aminat Dolovaya listed methods that help to avoid a stroke.
Important! Information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and do not self-medicate under any circumstances. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.
Ekaterina Demyanovskaya Health Neurologist