More and more children are suffering a stroke

Increase in strokes in children and adolescents

04/09/2011

The number of stroke patients has increased significantly among children and adolescents in the US over the past few years. This is the finding of researchers from the US Department of Health „Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “ (CDC) in Atlanta, evaluating the medical data of more than eight million patients between 1995 and 2008.

As a cause for the substantial increase of the strokes among American youth the scientists called upon publication of their results in the specialized magazine „Annals of Neurology“ the increase in cardiovascular risk factors due to the unhealthy lifestyle of adolescents. The researchers cited lack of exercise, obesity, alcohol and nicotine consumption as major reasons for an increased incidence of ischemic strokes. The so-called diabetes mellitus diabetes, which is also favored by an unhealthy lifestyle, is to be understood as a possible risk factor for strokes, according to the US researchers.

37 percent more strokes in 15- to 44-year-olds
So far, especially older people were considered as stroke-endangered, with those affected often have in the run-up to the acute attack already high blood pressure, severe obesity or diabetes. Since the unhealthy lifestyles among adolescents in the US, with their malnutrition, physical inactivity, alcohol and nicotine consumption, significantly increase the incidence of these stroke risk factors at a young age, the number of strokes in relatively young people has also increased significantly, according to US scientists -Gesundheitsbehörde. According to the CDC, the number of stroke patients between the ages of 15 and 44 has increased by as much as 37 percent since 1994. Although so-called ischemic strokes caused by poor circulation in the brain are still relatively rare in younger people compared to older people, the tendency is worrying, say the US experts.

Strokes of adolescents increased by more than thirty percent
For example, from 1994/95 to 2006/07, medical data showed a 51 percent increase in male strokes between the ages of 15 and 34, US scientists said. However, this was only an increase from an average of 9.8 to 14.8 strokes per 10,000 hospital admissions, the experts continue. In the slightly older men (35 to 44 years old), the number of strokes increased in the study period by 47 percent from 36 to 52.9 cases per 10,000 hospital admissions, according to the scientists. While the increase in strokes is less dramatic among 15- to 34-year-old younger women, there was an increase of 17 percent between 1994 and 2007 (from an average of 3.6 to 4.2 strokes per 10,000 hospital admissions). The number of people affected by the slightly older women in the 35- to 44-year-olds group increased by 36 percent from 21.9 to 30 strokes per 10,000 hospital admissions during the study period, the study concludes. According to the US researchers, the boys and girls under the age of 14 also had an increase of more than 30 percent in their strokes (girls 36 percent, boys 31 percent), with the case numbers of four girls and five boys per 10 hospital admissions here too were relatively low.

Increase in risk factors for strokes
The young stroke patients were subject to similar risk factor as they apply to the elderly, the US scientists report. For example, according to the current study, 25 percent of those aged 15-44 suffer from diabetes in advance of their stroke-related hospitalization. One-third of stroke patients in this age group had high blood pressure, while among the 35 to 44-year-olds it was almost 50 percent. The cause of the increase in strokes is therefore due to a significant increase in risk factors, which in turn due to the unhealthy lifestyle of those affected, said the US experts. In addition to an unbalanced diet and a corresponding overweight, the researchers cite lack of exercise, alcohol and cigarettes as major factors influencing the risk of stroke. As stated by Mary George of the US Department of Health (CDC), young people need to be encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle right from the beginning, as balanced diet, exercise, and avoidance of alcohol and nicotine can help prevent strokes.

250,000 fatal strokes in Germany per year
Since the stroke risk factors such as overweight and diabetes among German adolescents have also increased significantly in recent years - albeit not to the same extent as in the USA - experts in this country are also expecting an increase in young stroke patients in the future. According to information from the Federal Statistical Office, around 250,000 people are already dying of stroke each year across Germany - with a rising trend. The typical symptoms are, according to the experts, for example, acute visual disturbances, impaired understanding, word finding disorders, paralysis of the face, arms, legs, or even a whole half of the body as well as dizziness and severe headache. If there is any sign of stroke, contact an emergency physician as soon as possible, although younger people should always be aware of the current risk assessment results, because strokes are by no means an all-old disease. (Fp)

Also read:
Olive oil reduces stroke risk
Mediterranean cuisine lowers heart attack risk
Lack of sleep favors stroke & heart attack

Picture: CFalk