Unexplainable Strokes Becoming Common In Young Folks Who Do THIS!

Being young is almost seen as a ‘get-away free’ card for many people. You feel energized and on top of the world, pulling all-nighters, then keeping up with all the course work and somehow have the time to party, without resting properly. This kind of mindset, while ok every now and then, encourages them to indulge in other activities like drinking, doing substances or smoking. Many of them start to believe that doing this at a young age will not affect their body, or have long-term side effects, but a new study shows that this may not be the case anymore. You may be under the assumption that strokes, diabetes and other issues like hypertension are all problems that people above 50 have, but the risk of stroke has now doubled even in youngsters.

A study published in Neurology Journals revealed a strong link between smoking and unexplained strokes, particularly in younger adults. The American Stroke Association says these strokes, known as cryptogenic strokes, happen when blood flow to the brain is blocked, but doctors can't easily find the cause. The research shows that if you smoke, your risk of having one of these strokes more than doubles. What's even more alarming is that heavy smoking makes the danger much higher. People who have smoked more than a pack of cigarettes every day for 20 years have over four times the risk of a stroke compared to people who have never smoked. This highlights how seriously smoking can damage your health, even at a younger age.

What Does This Mean For The Public?

The people who did this study think we need to work harder to stop young people from smoking, especially smoking a lot. They believe this will help stop young people from having strokes. They looked at a special kind of stroke that's hard to figure out, and not much is known about how smoking causes it in young people. They wanted to find out more. It's important to know the risks so young people can make good choices and stay healthy. According to the American Lung Association, 87% of adults who are daily smokers tried their first cigarrete by the age of 18 and 95% had by the age of 21.

To understand the connection between smoking and strokes in young adults, the researchers analyzed medical records. They compared two groups, young people who had experienced strokes and young people who hadn't. By examining these records, they could see how smoking habits correlated with stroke occurrences. The findings revealed that a significantly higher percentage of stroke victims were smokers compared to those who hadn't had strokes. Specifically, about one-third of the individuals who had strokes were smokers, while only 15% of those without strokes were smokers. This clear difference strongly indicates that smoking significantly increases the likelihood of young adults experiencing strokes.

Why Does This Kind Of Stroke In Younger People Pose A Problem?

More young people are having these hard-to-explain strokes. That's why this study is so important. The researchers found that smoking is a big reason why these strokes happen. Knowing this can help us stop people from having them. It's important to find the causes so we can prevent them.

The study also highlighted several factors that influence stroke risk in young adults. These include age, gender, and the intensity of smoking. Men who smoke are at a considerably higher risk of strokes compared to women who smoke or to men who don't smoke at all. Also, older young adults, even within the young age range, face a greater risk. Naturally, the more you smoke, the higher your risk becomes. Smoking heavily, especially over extended periods, is exceptionally dangerous. Even smoking a small amount regularly increases the risk compared to not smoking at all. These factors show that stroke risk is influenced by multiple elements related to smoking habits.

How Does Smoking Affect Your Body?

Cigarette smoke contains numerous harmful substances that damage the body, particularly the blood and blood vessels. These substances interfere with the blood's ability to carry oxygen, leading to oxygen deprivation in various parts of the body. Additionally, they elevate blood pressure, putting extra strain on the heart and blood vessels. Smoking also disrupts cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of arteries hardening, which further restricts blood flow. All these factors contribute to an increased risk of strokes. The cumulative effect of these harmful substances makes smoking extremely detrimental to cardiovascular health. It's a direct pathway to serious health problems.

Sources

https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WN9.0000000000000003

https://www.health.gov.au/topics/smoking-vaping-and-tobacco/about-smoking/effects

https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/types-of-stroke/cryptogenic-stroke

https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/impact-of-tobacco-use/tobacco-use-among-children#:~:text=Cigarette%20smoking%20during%20childhood%20and,on%20lung%20growth%20and%20function.