Young people can have strokes, recognize the symptoms and causes

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Stroke is not a disease that only the elderly can suffer from. In factAbout 10-15% of strokes occur in adults under the age of 45, and that number is rising.

The stroke itself occurs because the brain is no longer getting oxygen because blood flow is cut off. Interrupted blood flow is caused by two things, namely leaky blood vessels or clogged blood vessels.

Strokes can occur due to a blockage (ischemic stroke) or rupture of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). The most common type of stroke in young people is ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot blocking an artery.

Causes of stroke among young adults

Several risk factors for stroke in young people differ from those found in older adults. The causes of stroke are smoking, alcohol, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

However, a poor lifestyle isn’t the only cause of strokes in young people. Another condition that can cause a stroke before the age of 45 is heredity or genetics. This inherited condition increases your chances of having a stroke.

Here are the signs and symptoms of a stroke to look out for:

1. Visual impairment or blurred vision

A stroke can cause double, blurred or even loss of vision in one eye. However, these symptoms may not be as obvious as the weakness of the muscles of the face, arms and slurred speech which are generally seen more frequently in stroke patients.

2. Difficult to speak and often lightheaded

Stroke can also reduce a person’s ability to express themselves through words or to understand other people’s words. A series of simple tests doctors do, like asking you to say a line or two, can predict how great your stroke risk is.

3. Soft arms and legs

When you have a stroke, it is common for an arm or leg, or both, to suddenly become weak, numb, or paralyzed. It could also be that the side of the body that is paralyzed is the opposite of the part of the brain affected by the stroke.

Try raising your arms to a parallel position for just 10 seconds. If an arm falls slightly, it could indicate muscle weakness or one of the symptoms of a stroke. You can also open both eyes as you lift each leg alternately and see if the height can be leveled or not.

4. Dizziness or loss of balance

If you feel nauseous often or have trouble walking, many people think you’re drunk, but you may be having a stroke.

5. Acute headache

Be careful if you suddenly experience a severe headache, even one that may be the worst of your life, because it is a symptom of a stroke.

A study involving 588 patients found that people who experienced headaches as an early symptom of a stroke tended to be younger and had a history of migraines.

6. A gloomy face

Sudden weakness of the facial muscles on one side could be one of the symptoms of a stroke. Your doctor can find out by asking you to smile or by showing your teeth. But if one side of your face isn’t moving, it could mean you’ve had a stroke.

7. Nieri

Pain is not a common symptom of a stroke, unless you suddenly develop pain in an arm, leg, part of the face or chest, so don’t underestimate it. One study also found that it was women who experienced non-traditional stroke symptoms more often than men, even up to 62 percent. And one of the most common symptoms is pain.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]