Warning of increasing and rejuvenating trend of stroke

(QBĐT) - As one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world and in Vietnam, stroke has recently been on the rise and is becoming increasingly younger. Quang Binh province is no exception, as the number of stroke patients admitted to emergency rooms has increased.

Increasing and rejuvenating stroke

On January 14, 2025, Ms. Nguyen Thi Th. H. (35 years old) in Nam Ly ward (Dong Hoi city) fainted and collapsed while working. As soon as the disease started, the patient was quickly taken to the Emergency Department, Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital Dong Hoi (HNVN-CBDH), diagnosed with cerebral infarction and prescribed mechanical thrombolysis. Fortunately, thanks to early detection and timely treatment, the patient recovered and was discharged from the hospital without any sequelae.

Mr. Tran HM (77 years old) in Van Hoa commune (Tuyen Hoa) had heart failure, had previously suffered a stroke, was treated at the Bac Quang Binh Regional General Hospital and showed signs of basic recovery, and was discharged home. After that, he had another stroke. “After being admitted to the HNVN-CBĐH Hospital on December 31, 2024, with a brain hemorrhage and extensive bleeding, the doctors ordered an emergency surgery. The surgery was successful and the three children showed signs of recovery, starting to recognize, talk, and swallow...”, Ms. Tran Thi Th. H., Mr. M's daughter, shared.

Stroke patients will be treated more promptly and effectively when brought to the hospital during the "golden hour".

According to information from HNVN-CBDH Hospital, in 2024, there were 2,310 stroke patients admitted to the hospital for emergency treatment, including: 1,326 cases of cerebral infarction (accounting for 57%), 931 cases of cerebral hemorrhage (40%) and 53 cases of hemorrhage due to ruptured cerebral aneurysm (3%). The average age of stroke is 70 years old. In particular, in recent years, the rate of young people having strokes has increased, in 2024 alone there were 162 cases under the age of 45.

Why do young and healthy people still have strokes?

That is the question many people ask every time they hear about stroke cases, even deaths at a very young age. Some causes are also guessed by people, given to explain the above situation. So what is the main cause?

Doctor CKII. Nguyen Dai Viet Duc, Head of the Department of Intensive Care and Anti-Poison, HNVN-CBDH Hospital, said that first of all, we must understand that stroke or cerebrovascular accident is a condition in which blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to lack oxygen and glucose, leading to damage and death of brain cells.

According to Dr. Duc, whether in young or old people, stroke always has a cause, especially in patients with underlying diseases, a healthy person cannot naturally have a stroke. The main risk factors causing stroke include: High blood pressure, cardiovascular disease; diabetes, dyslipidemia; smoking, alcohol abuse; obesity, sedentary lifestyle; family history of stroke.

In addition, there are other factors, such as: sudden changes in weather, work pressure, psychology, etc. Having a stroke at a young age is because the person has underlying diseases earlier, has higher risk factors. Therefore, at any age, we need to pay attention, have regular health check-ups to detect risk factors for stroke and maintain a moderate diet and lifestyle...

For people with underlying diseases, at high risk of stroke, preventive treatment can be done: Primary prevention for people who have never had a stroke but have underlying diseases and secondary prevention for people who have had a stroke. Both levels follow the same method of controlling and treating underlying diseases, returning to a normal state and changing lifestyle, diet, proper exercise, etc.

HNVN-CBDH Hospital has fully deployed the most modern, high-tech methods in stroke treatment.

Early detection, timely treatment

If not treated promptly, stroke can cause death or leave many serious sequelae. Doctor CKI. Hoang Minh Huy, Department of Intensive Care and Anti-Poison, HNVN-CBDH Hospital noted that there are signs to quickly recognize a stroke, including: The patient's mouth is distorted, clearly expressed when smiling, opening the mouth; weakness in the limbs; abnormal language;...

In addition, there are some other signs, such as: Severe headache of unknown cause; sudden loss of vision or blurred vision; dizziness, loss of balance or fainting... When any of the above symptoms appear, family members need to call 115 emergency or quickly take the patient to a medical facility capable of treating stroke.

With the success of the medical team in emergency stroke treatment, HNVN-CBDH Hospital has been awarded the gold standard certificate by the World Stroke Association in 2022.

Currently, HNVN-CBĐH Hospital has fully deployed the most modern and high-tech methods in the treatment of stroke today, such as: Intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy for patients with cerebral infarction; craniotomy to remove hematoma, intraventricular thrombolysis, clip surgery or coil embolization for the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage, ruptured cerebral aneurysms... In 2024, the hospital performed 115 surgeries using high-tech methods. At the same time, Bac Quang Binh Regional General Hospital also performed thrombolysis techniques in the treatment of cerebral infarction.

“For ischemic stroke, special attention should be paid to the “golden hour” in treatment: 4-5 hours from the onset of symptoms to treatment with thrombolytic drugs and 6 hours with thrombolysis. After these time frames, cerebral revascularization treatments cannot be performed. Therefore, when detecting signs of stroke, the patient should be quickly taken to the emergency room as soon as possible. Time should not be wasted on things like acupressure or pricking and squeezing blood from 10 fingertips, etc., because it will delay the golden hour for the patient to receive timely and effective treatment, because every minute that passes, about 2 million nerve cells die,” Dr. Nguyen Dai Viet Duc advised.

Huong Le

Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/suc-khoe/202502/canh-bao-xu-huong-gia-tang-va-tre-hoa-benh-dot-quy-2224331/