The most common thing was that a cerebral infarction was more common in older adults; However, international studies have documented a growth of cases in young peoplewhile factors such as hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol disorders They appear from increasingly younger ages.
In the United States, the prevalence of cerebrovascular events among adults aged 18 to 44 years increased 14.6% when comparing the periods 2011-2013 and 2020-2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The percentage went from 0.8 to 0.9%but the change was statistically significant.
Globally, an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease 2021 estimated that the number of new cases among adults aged 15 to 49 grew 36% between 1990 and 2021. Although the age-adjusted rates decreased for much of the period, since 2015 a new increase was observed in incidence of ischemic stroke among young people.
Another national study, conducted in the Netherlands, found that the incidence among people aged 18 to 50 years increased 23% between 1998 and 2010. Growth was driven by ischemic events and It was mainly concentrated in people over 35 years of age.
The risk begins to build years before
In Mexico, there is not enough data to allow us to know how much the costs have specifically increased. cerebral infarctions among those under 40 years of age; However, doctors care for young patients with diseases that previously appeared mainly at older ages.
“What we are seeing today is that very young people, from 30, 35 years old, are suffering from these chronic diseases at an early age.”, explains Dr. Daniel Sánchez Arreola.
The specialist points out that the diabetes, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia They increase a person’s risk of suffering from cerebral vascular disease. The problem is that several of these conditions can progress without causing obvious discomfort.
“Many of these people do not even know that they have diabetes, hypertension, until they present themselves to the hospitals as a heart attack or as a decompensation.”, he warns.
This means that the heart attack occurs suddenly, but the deterioration of the blood vessels can begin years before. Therefore, knowing some basic health indicators before 40 allows you to detect conditions that need treatment.
Blood pressure
Hypertension is one of the main modifiable factors related to stroke. It can develop without symptoms and progressively damage the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain.
“Hypertension gradually damages the blood vessels and, among them, the brain vessels.”, explains Sánchez Arreola, who recalls that it is known as the “silent killer” because it can remain unnoticed until it causes a complication.
The global analysis of adults aged 15 to 49 years identified elevated systolic pressure as the main factor related to the loss of years of healthy life due to cerebrovascular events in young people.
An isolated measurement is not enough to diagnose hypertension. However, repeatedly elevated values require medical evaluation.
blood glucose
Diabetes can also progress for years without causing clear signs. Maintain high glucose levels contributes to blood vessel damage and increases the risk of cardiovascular complications and cerebral.
Fasting glucose allows us to know the amount of sugar present in the blood after several hours without eating, while glycated hemoglobin shows how these levels have behaved during the previous months.
People with a family history of diabetes, overweight, obesity, little physical activity or high blood pressure may need earlier check-ups, according to their medical assessment.
Cholesterol and triglycerides
The lipid profile measures components such as LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. When there are persistent alterations, fatty deposits can form on the arterial walls and the flow of blood can be progressively reduced.
“Excess sugar also damages our blood vessels and this, over the years or months, forms a thrombus, a clot in the brain.”, points out the doctor.
He also warns that plaques can begin to develop at a young age: “We see very young people who, with a not very good diet, practically in five or six years develop atheromas, which are those cholesterol plaques in the arteries.”.
Habits accumulate too
Sleep little, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, unbalanced dietand remaining physically inactive do not usually cause immediate brain obstruction on their own. However, they can promote hypertension, diabetes and arterial damage over time.
