Alarming increase in strokes among young people.

Stroke was previously considered a disease of old age, but now, hospital records show that it is tending to spread to younger people as well. The cause stems from lifestyles that most of us engage in.

High cholesterol and stroke: A perfect match.

Recently, the National Institute of Nutrition released alarming figures on dyslipidemia (high blood lipid levels). One in four people suffers from high blood lipid levels or fatty liver disease. While previously, high blood lipid levels were primarily seen in people over 60 (63%), it is now becoming more prevalent among younger people.

The latest statistics show that 29% of young people suffer from dyslipidemia, primarily concentrated in urban areas. Professor and doctor Pham Gia Khai, former President of the Vietnam Cardiology Association and a senior expert in cardiology, stated: “70% of dyslipidemia is related to the body's metabolism. When the composition of blood lipids changes, it leads to changes in blood sugar levels, kidney function, etc. Anyone can suffer from dyslipidemia, even thin people. In fact, this disease is trending towards affecting younger people.”

"Patients with dyslipidemia are at increased risk of stroke at any time. This is because their blood vessel walls are easily damaged, and fat cells deposit in the vessel walls, forming atherosclerotic plaques. When these plaques accumulate, they narrow the blood vessels, slowing down blood flow and making blood clots more likely to form."

Normally, there is always a certain amount of fat in the blood. However, when there is a lipid disorder, the fat components in the blood increase or decrease abnormally, which may include an increase in total cholesterol, an increase in LDL-cholesterol ("bad") and triglycerides, and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol ("good"). The harmful components in fat increase and the beneficial ones decrease, thereby harming the body.

"They cause blockages in the aorta, and blood clots anywhere in the body can be dangerous. If the blockage is in the heart, it can cause a heart attack; if it's in the brain, it can cause a brain hemorrhage; if it's in the limbs, it can cause pain, cyanosis, and necrosis. In the kidneys, it can cause renal artery stenosis and renal atrophy...", Professor Pham Gia Khai emphasized.

High blood lipid levels can cause serious complications, but people often overlook them. Professor Pham Gia Khai added: "The symptoms of dyslipidemia are often unclear, so few people know they have the disease. This is especially true for young people who are in good health and often disregard the signs of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), such as dropping chopsticks while eating, numbness or pain in the limbs, or limping..."

In fact, according to hospital statistics, the rate of stroke among young people is trending upwards, averaging about 2% per year, with the number of men being four times higher than that of women. Approximately 50% of stroke patients die. This rate increases significantly if a recurrence occurs after 3-5 years.

Eating habits: The culprit behind the disease.

According to Dr. Doan Thi Tuong Vi, a specialist at the Institute of Clinical Nutrition, the reason young people are at increased risk of dyslipidemia and stroke is that these diseases are closely related to lifestyle and eating habits. A sedentary lifestyle with little physical activity, coupled with an unbalanced diet, excessive consumption of fats, fried foods, fast food, sugary foods, and carbonated drinks, increases the risk of these diseases.

In fact, this condition is common among people who frequently eat and drink alcohol. Many people who regularly drink alcohol only discover they have high cholesterol after a medical check-up. Many wonder, "Why do I only drink and not eat, yet I still have dyslipidemia?"

Explaining this situation, Dr. Doan Thi Tuong Vi said: Alcohol still contains a certain amount of calories (1 gram of alcohol contains 7 kcal). However, the calories in alcohol are often empty calories, lacking nutritional balance and not good for health. In addition, the food and drinks consumed with alcohol are usually high in fat. Therefore, people who frequently drink alcohol are more likely to develop dyslipidemia (high blood lipid levels).

According to Dr. Doan Thi Tuong Vi, to prevent dyslipidemia and avoid dangerous complications, we must have a diet low in animal fat, high in fruits, low in sugar and rice; exercise more to release energy, drink less alcohol; and have blood biochemistry tests twice a year. If you experience significant weight gain despite eating less, you should see a doctor early.

According to VNN