In stroke, those affected become younger and younger

More and more young people are suffering a stroke

04.10.2012

According to estimates by experts from the Center for Stroke Research at the Berlin Charité, around 270,000 people in Germany suffer a stroke each year. Almost 70,000 patients do not survive the incident, according to the Federal Statistical Office. A stroke can be prevented in many cases. High blood pressure, smoking, obesity, high cholesterol levels, lack of physical activity and pre-existing conditions such as diabetes are the main risk factors for stroke.

Stroke can often be prevented by healthy lifestyle
Almost every stroke has a history and could have been prevented by appropriate prevention, according to an educational initiative of the Austrian Medical Association (ÖAK). „There are ways to defend against it by minimizing the risk factors. Hypertension, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol and lack of exercise are all lifestyle factors that can be changed, "emphasizes ÖAK President Artur Wechselberger.For many stroke patients even more than one of these risk factors occurs.Other patients have cardiac arrhythmias or atrial fibrillation that cause blood clots and cause a stroke. „We can still develop such good medicines - if the patients do not take them then they will not work. The crux of the matter is that patients do not feel anything about hypertension or high cholesterol levels - so they often do not see why they should take a medicine, "says Professor Herbert Watzke, President of the Austrian Society of Internal Medicine were the most cooperative, as they wanted to prevent another at all costs.

The fastest possible medical help in case of stroke is absolutely necessary
Karl Max Einhäupl, neurologist and Foundation Chairman of the German Stroke Assistance, reports that stroke is the third most common cause of late acquired disability in adulthood. The likelihood of a full recovery - without the sufferer having any lasting mental or physical consequences - increases substantially with speed until he is receiving medical attention. It is therefore particularly important that the typical symptoms of stroke and the crucial first aid measures are known.

To detect a stroke, three questions can be helpful to laymen. First, it can be checked if the person affected can form his mouth into an even smile. Second, it tests whether the patient can hold both arms evenly with the palms of his hands. Finally, the person concerned should repeat a simple sentence. If the three tests are negative, 95 percent of them are strokes and the patient must go to the hospital immediately, Einhäupl reports. But even with an ambiguous result, it would be advisable to call the ambulance.

Under 30 years more women and over 30 more men affected by stroke
According to experts, about 80 percent of stroke patients are over 60 years old. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts a significant increase in first-stroke mortality of 36 percent (from 1.1 million in 2000 to 1.5 million by 2025) for EU countries by 2025.

Experts see the development of the so-called „juvenile strokes“, which occur in people aged 18 to 50 years. In this age group, the numbers also increase significantly and currently account for about eight percent of all strokes. While 18- to 30-year-olds more women are affected, suffer from more men from 30 strokes. The most common cause is an unhealthy lifestyle.

In the treatment of strokes, there are different therapies. In the case of blood clots that lead to vascular blockage, infusion with anticoagulant drugs that dissolve the clots is mainly used. Cerebral hemorrhages, on the other hand, usually require coagulation-promoting drugs. The treatment in so-called stroke units, which specialize in the treatment of strokes, is considered particularly good and comprehensive. Patients are being looked after by a team of neurologists, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons and radiologists. Currently, however, there are only 229 clinics in Germany that have a stroke unit. (Ag)

Also read:
Simple questions about stroke diagnosis
Passive smoking increases the risk of stroke
More and more children are suffering a stroke
Olive oil reduces stroke risk
Mediterranean cuisine lowers heart attack risk
Lack of sleep favors stroke & heart attack

Picture: Gerd Altmann