Stroke
A stroke, scientifically known as a cerebrovascular accident, is defined as an alteration of the cerebral circulation that causes a transitory or permanent deficit in the functioning of one or several brain areas.
This health problem is more common in older people. It is also more frequent among males and in the Asian race. This frequency is known from epidemiological studies, but in truth, the probability of suffering a stroke or not is related to many factors. They are modifiable and non-modifiable factors.
Modifiable factors
Modifiable factors are all those behaviors and habits that we can modify and control in our day to day. Are they:
- smoking
- Obesity
- sedentary lifestyle
- Alcohol
- Stress
- Hypertension
- Cholesterol
- Diabetes
- drugs
Non-modifiable factors
The non-modifiable factors are all those factors we do not know how to alter. Are they:
- Age
- Race
- Gender
- Family background
With this explanation, we can more easily understand why there are also cases of stroke in young people like Kiko Rivera or Hailey Bibier. Specifically, about 50% of hemorrhagic strokes, due to the rupture of a cerebral blood vessel, occur in people under 45 years of age.
The Spanish Society of Neurology says that this increase in cases may be due to the association with the coronavirus. There are other possible causes of the increased incidence of stroke in young people, such as:
- Malformations, atrial fibrillation, or undiagnosed ventricular dysfunction
- Substance abuse such as alcohol or drugs
- Obesity
- uncontrolled diabetes
- Stress
- Consumption of certain medications (eg: contraceptive pill)