(Representative) A rising incidence of strokes among young people aged 18 to 45 is alarming health professionals
A sudden headache, weakness in his right arm and leg, and a drop in consciousness brought P Rajesh (name changed), a 32-year-old tractor driver from Hyderabad, to hospital with a stroke caused by years of undiagnosed and uncontrolled high blood pressure. Case-2: 16-yr-old gets new lease of life with surgery Repeated seizures, sudden falls and declining academic performance left 16-year-old G Jaswant of Siddipet struggling to continue his studies. An 18-year-old college student, K Pavani (name changed), from Nalgonda suffered a major stroke in Aug. “Just a few years ago, we’d be shocked to see a stroke in someone under 40 years.
Because he skipped breakfast, his family initially believed he was falling. A CT scan revealed bleeding in his brain, while further tests showed thickening of the heart’s left ventricle, indicating that it had been under prolonged pressure. However, tests revealed that he had Moyamoya disease, a rare condition in which the arteries supplying blood to the brain progressively narrow.
But young people can also develop hypertension, and if it is not controlled, it can lead to a serious stroke,” said Dr Hemant K, neurologist at Osmania General Hospital (OGH). Rajesh said he is now able to walk and carry out his daily activities independently. Dr Yeragunta Thirumal, additional prof of neurosurgery at NIMS, said the narrowing of blood vessels can increase risk of stroke. The surgeries helped improve blood supply to the brain, and he has since made a remarkable recovery,” he said. Ignoring early symptoms is a big mistake as delayed treatment often means the difference between recovery and lifelong disability,” said Dr B Dinesh Kumar, associate professor in neurology, Gandhi Hospital.
After treatment to control his blood pressure and reduce pressure inside the brain, Rajesh began improving within five days. He gradually regained strength and underwent intensive rehabilitation. “People often think that high blood pressure affects only older adults. Within two months, Jaswant had fallen seven to eight times. “He had cerebral bypass surgery on both sides of the brain. she developed a severe headache and collapsed While at college. She was taken to a district hospital which referred her to NIMS. Now young strokes are more frequent than before.