Stroke risk for the young

Dos and dont's of the potentially fatal event explained

- Dr Tushar Raut

AS PER LATEST ICMR data, 1 in 7 stroke patients in India are under 45 years of age. What do doctors observe clinically? Dr Tushar Raut, consultant, neurology, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, says: "This is alarming yet unsurprising to healthcare professionals like us, as we are seeing a surge in younger cases among working professionals in their 30s and 40s presenting with stroke symptoms driven by poor diets, prolonged work hours, lack of exercise, and chronic stress. Many had undiagnosed hypertension, diabetes, or sleep apnea simply because they never got checked, feeling fine until it struck.

Stroke is no longer just an elderly disease, with key risk factors spanning non-modifiable ones like advanced age, strong family history, and genetic issues (for example, high homocysteine), alongside modifiable culprits such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, cardiac ailments, smoking and tobacco use, and excess alcohol.

What are the reasons for higher incidences of stroke?