Graduated in 1993, he has 28 years of experience in local journalism. Former head of the Sports and The City section and current Editorial Secretary of La Nueva. Former professor at the city’s two journalism institutes. Specialist in sports, social and union issues.
While the age of those affected is steadily decreasing year after year, the projections are also extremely worrying: it is estimated that by 2050, global mortality from stroke will increase by 50% and will claim 9.7 million lives.
Stroke is no longer just a problem for older adults: more and more people under 55 years of age suffer from it and doctors warn about this silent epidemic, driven by chronic stress, poor diet, and alcohol or drug use.
Precisely, the International Stroke Prevention Day, which is commemorated every October 29, seeks to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and immediate action against this disease that, historically, was associated with older adults.
But the statistics of recent years show a worrying change: people under 55 years of age represent a growing percentage of cases, affecting not only their health, but also their work performance, family relationships and quality of life.
“There is undoubtedly more and better data now to compare. My opinion is that they detect more strokes than those detected before, but I believe that the overall number has not changed significantly. It has been noted that it grew a little in women,” said Dr. Juan José Rayer from Bahia, a senior specialist in Neurology, relativizing the age of those affected.
“The fact that they occur earlier is due to the increasing prevalence of risk factors. Many are modifiable: a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, dietary changes, tobacco and alcohol consumption are issues that are developing in people. Many young people already have obesity, sleep amnesia, diabetes and abuse tobacco or alcohol,” he added.
Although there are no official statistics in Bahía Blanca, Rayer pointed out that “the generalities of the law apply to us, although there is no significant increase in the number of cases and there is a slight increase in the age at which strokes begin to appear.”
The perception that stroke was exclusive to advanced age has become obsolete, and specialists warn about the need for this population to recognize the risks and early signs to act in time.
“Among the main factors that contribute to this trend in young people are chronic stress, poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, the consumption of alcohol and other substances, as well as congenital cardiovascular problems. Although classic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol continue to be determining factors, these specific factors in young adults explain the alarming increase in cases and highlight the importance of active prevention from an early age,” explained Dr. Pablo Díaz (MP 2711), a specialist in Neurology and therapist.
Precisely, the increasingly frequent appearance of obesity in very young people is one of the most worrying issues in the health field.
“Before, when I went to school, there were two or three obese kids in the classroom and today you have 50% of the curriculum or a little more. In fact, in the United States there is an obesity epidemic. Added to that is that the latest reports say that people started smoking again,” Rayer commented.
What is it?
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing the brain tissue from receiving oxygen and nutrients. In a matter of minutes, cells begin to be damaged and that is why recognizing the symptoms and acting quickly can make the difference between life and death.
The sooner medical attention is received, the greater the chances of recovery and the fewer the consequences.
It is estimated that around 120,000 people suffer a stroke each year in Argentina. Unfortunately, these cases result in approximately 40,000 deaths annually.
Strokes mainly occur in two forms: ischemic (caused by blockages in the brain arteries that prevent normal flow) and hemorrhagic (caused by rupture of blood vessels and bleeding in the brain, which increases pressure and damages neurons).
“87% of strokes are of ischemic origin and the rest are hemorrhagic, which are more related to certain predisposing factors such as uncontrolled hypertension or amyloid angiopathy; that is, it occurs in very old patients who have dementia and that causes the blood vessels to weaken and may cause hemorrhage. It generally affects a different subpopulation on average,” Rayer explained.
In both cases, speed of medical care is decisive in reducing complications and increasing the chances of recovery.
“When a person suffers a stroke, every second counts. Sometimes, the difference between life and death—or between recovering and living with consequences—is in someone recognizing what is happening and acting without hesitation,” summarized Pablo Díaz.
“Regarding the first signs to detect it, in the United States they have an acronym that they call FAST. The F is Face, that is, you have to ask the person to laugh and see if they have an asymmetrical smile or if they have a crooked face. The A is for Arms: you have to ask them to raise them and if one falls or if they have less strength in one, it is a sign of a stroke. The S is for Speech, in which you must ask them to repeat or See if they understand what you are talking about and pay attention to whether they have difficulty expressing themselves or understanding. And the T is for Time, because if the person presents any of these signs, you must urgently call the emergency system and explain that it is a red code, of a probable stroke so that the ambulance does not waste time,” added the Bahia specialist.
To avoid this, it is necessary to recognize symptoms such as: weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking or understanding, sudden visual disturbances, loss of balance or coordination, and severe headache.
In the event of any of these signs, going immediately to a medical center can be decisive in avoiding permanent disability and preserving quality of life.
The aftermath
In addition to immediate care, experts emphasize the importance of early rehabilitation. Physiotherapy, speech therapy and psychological care are key to achieving a more complete recovery and helping patients reintegrate into their daily lives.
“Stroke is the first cause of disability. Some types, such as cardiombolic ones, are tremendously disabling. There are more and more people who survive a stroke because therapy has improved, but many people who survive are left with some type of sequelae,” Rayer anticipated.
“We say that 70% of what you are going to recover you recover in the first 6 months; the other 30% you can recover in the following 6 months and everything that you do not recover after a year is the definitive sequel that it leaves.
Generally, patients live with some type with a sequelae and mortality in the coming years is high in those patients who had a stroke,” he added.
The lack of access to preventive studies in some sectors of the population generates inequalities that directly impact the possibilities of recovery and labor reintegration.
“Obviously there are people who are reluctant to have routine check-ups, but on the other hand it is greatly affecting access to medicine, which in our country is becoming very complex. I am not discovering anything by saying that a person has to go to a public hospital at 5 in the morning to make an appointment, which usually takes 2 months to see the neurologist. After the visit, an MRI is usually requested, which today is a basic study, and the appointments are also long-term.”
–What is advised then?
–What we advise is to take care of modifiable risk factors, as a way to prevent. In neurology, we cure few things, what we do most is prevent. That is why we try to ensure that the patient controls his weight, that he follows an adequate diet, that if he has an arrhythmia he treats it correctly, that if he has pressure he takes care of it; If you have diabetes, try to correct it; don’t smoke; that you exercise; that if you snore and have apneas, solve them; If you have high cholesterol, treat it.
“All of these are modifiable risk factors and we define them as primary prevention, which is the most important thing in medicine. After you have had a stroke, secondary prevention comes, which is taking care of the same things so that the episode does not happen again,” Rayer concluded.
“Maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, managing stress, avoiding alcohol consumption and performing regular medical check-ups are effective measures to reduce the risk of stroke. Educating the population about these habits and encouraging early detection of symptoms not only saves lives, but also improves quality of life,” Díaz concluded.
