Doctors stress healthy lifestyle and regular check-up to prevent strokes in young adults

Doctors stress healthy lifestyle and regular check-up to prevent strokes in young adults

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 29.10.2024

Sedentary lifestyle, hypertension and diabetes, and substance abuse are some of the key factors leading to rising incidence of stroke among young adults, said doctors from Kauvery Hospital at a webinar, part of The Hindu’s Wellness Series, held on Monday.

Explaining the issue, Sivarajan Thandeswaran, senior consultant, stroke and neurovascular medicine, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, said 23% of all intracerebral haemorrhages and 16% of all subarachnoid haemorrhages occurred in people aged between 15 and 49. He said diabetes and hypertension were both common risk factors. Many adults who have high blood pressure do not know they have it, and monitoring and keeping blood pressure levels in check is one of the easiest ways to prevent a stroke, he pointed out. Obstructive sleep apnea and stress were the other factors, both of which should not be ignored, he emphasised.

“Women have a slightly higher risk of stroke compared to men,” Dr. Thandeswaran said.

G. Jos Jasper, head of brain and spine surgery, Kauvery Hospital, Tiruchi, said the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns had contributed to an increase in sedentary lifestyle and eating unhealthy food, the effects of which still lingered. On the surgical management of strokes, he said nearly 80% of patients only needed medical management and did not require surgery. Dr. Jasper said that surgery was done only in cases of very large blocks, in young patients, worsening clinical status despite medical management, and bleeds even after administration of clot-dissolving drugs.

S. Senthil Babu, senior consultant, neurosurgery, Kauvery Hospital, Tirunelveli, gave an overview of the surgical management of haemorrhagic stroke.

To watch the full webinar, visit: https://bit.ly/48riYav