Stroke Can Happen at Any Age
By Chauncey Crandall, M.D.
The death last year of actor Luke Perry, who had suffered a massive stroke three days earlier, has shed light on a serious condition that is often overlooked by seemingly healthy individuals and those in younger generations.
The star of Beverly Hills 90210 and Riverdale was just 52 years old when he died. Many have regarded strokes as something that affected only seniors, but Perry's death shows the condition can occur at any age.
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According to the National Institutes of Health, the risk of stroke doubles for each decade after the age of 55, with the vast majority of cases impacting people among older generations. However, experts have found that at least 38% of first-time strokes are happening in adults between the ages of 40 to 69.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain either becomes blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood it needs, so it dies.
Risk factors that make people more susceptible to stroke include high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, pregnancy, contraceptive pill, migraines, and smoking.
The National Stroke Association reports that stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and disability in the U.S., yet research shows that few people know what a stroke is and how to recognize when it is happening.
Never ignore the onset of any new neurological problem, but signs requiring immediate attention include weakness or numbness on one side of the body, drooping on one side of the face, difficulty reading or understanding speech, slurred speech, sudden extreme headache, loss of peripheral vision, or difficulty walking.
By Chauncey Crandall, M.D.
The death last year of actor Luke Perry, who had suffered a massive stroke three days earlier, has shed light on a serious condition that is often overlooked by seemingly healthy individuals and those in younger generations.
The star of Beverly Hills 90210 and Riverdale was just 52 years old when he died. Many have regarded strokes as something that affected only seniors, but Perry's death shows the condition can occur at any age.
Special: Heart Surgeon's Secret to Healthy Blood Pressure
According to the National Institutes of Health, the risk of stroke doubles for each decade after the age of 55, with the vast majority of cases impacting people among older generations. However, experts have found that at least 38% of first-time strokes are happening in adults between the ages of 40 to 69.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain either becomes blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood it needs, so it dies.
Risk factors that make people more susceptible to stroke include high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, pregnancy, contraceptive pill, migraines, and smoking.
The National Stroke Association reports that stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and disability in the U.S., yet research shows that few people know what a stroke is and how to recognize when it is happening.
Never ignore the onset of any new neurological problem, but signs requiring immediate attention include weakness or numbness on one side of the body, drooping on one side of the face, difficulty reading or understanding speech, slurred speech, sudden extreme headache, loss of peripheral vision, or difficulty walking.
