Increasing Strokes in Young people: A Disability & Economic Concern?
Authors: Kishanrao Suresh 
Published: May 2024

Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability and has a potentially enormous emotional and socio-economic impact on patients, their families, and health system worldwide. Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability, as it reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors aged 65 and older. The incidence of in-hospital mortality is around 10-15%. Recovery from stroke takes weeks, months or even years or some may live with lifelong disabilities, while few recover completely. AIIM New- Delhi reported that 6 (2%) of stroke cases admitted in 2022 to Neurology department, were aged less than 20 years, and another quarter of total 300 patients were in the age group of 21-45years. Their recent study also indicates that the proportion of hypertension cases (65%) among first ever stroke patients. Stroke was mainly a problem of elderly persons for long, but in the recent years is hitting younger people, even teenagers, coupled with increasing longevity is causing more challenges for public health due to lifelong disability apart from deaths. Storke is an emergent brain, retina, and spinal cord disorder, caused by the occlusion of blood vessels (ischemic stroke) and rupture of blood vessels (a haemorrhagic stroke). Traditional risk factors include Hypertension (HT), diabetes, cardiac arrythmias, obesity, dyslipidaemia, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle, contributing for more than 50% of cases. Of late non-traditional risk factors - Instant gratification culture, heightened stress and disrupted sleep, substance abuse, Chronic stress from ambitious careers and constant connectivity neck jerks or sudden twists while driving, gymming or in hair cutting salons, set the stage for strokes in the younger workforce. Stroke recovery process involves making changes in the physical, social, and emotional aspects of life. While only 1% survive 20 years after stroke, majority 80% of people survive 2 years, 61% survive 3 years and so on as 5% survive 16 years. Nearly 85% of the strokes in India can be prevented by the control of traditional risk factors. A recent Indian study (2019-21) indicates the prevalence of diabetes is at 11.4%, while 35.5% suffer from hypertension, abdominal obesity at 40% across the population and female abdominal obesity is 50%. Half of the HT sufferers are not even aware of their condition, especially among many low socio-economic adults. Unfortunately, it has no warning signs or symptoms. Therefore, regular monitoring of BP, frequently and managing is the most important intervention that can change the situation; therefore, such facilities must be made accessible not only in health facilities but other public places. 1.2. Materials and Methods: This article is based on 5 cases of Strokes author was overseeing over a year from February 2023 & January 2024, 3 cases were first ever stroke and two recurrence cases (one each second and third time in last 3 years. All aresurviving, one with highly restricted movements needing assistance, two with minor disabilities (10-25% paresis of affected limbs), 1 near complete recovery and another in active recovery phase.