Diabetes partly to blame for rise in stroke in young people

A new study from the United States has shown a rise in stroke among teenagers and young adults. Type 2 diabetes, as one of the risk factors involved in strokes, along with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, obesity and smoking, could be partly to blame for the increase.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the amount of people aged between 15 and 44 that had been hospitalised for stroke had risen dramatically by over a third from 1995 to 2008, which they claim is partly due to more young people suffering from conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, both of which are more commonly linked with older adults.
The study, which was published in the Annals of Neurology, also revealed that type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol levels increased use of tobacco had also risen for adolescents and young adults who experienced a stroke over the same time period.
Mary George, lead researcher on the project, commented “I was surprised to see the extent of cardiovascular risk factors in this young population.”
She added “We really need to encourage people to lead healthy lifestyles from the time they are very young. Stroke is largely preventable and eating a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, (and) avoiding tobacco and alcohol abuse can go a long way to prevent stroke.”