Alcohol and drug abuse may be responsible for the increase in stroke incidence in young adults over the past two decades in addition to smoking, a recent study published in the journal Stroke suggests.
Scientists from the University of Cincinnati (Ohio, USA) under the supervision of Dr. Brett Kisseli recently showed that the incidence of stroke in people under 55 has increased in the last two decades. In the first half of October, in the online edition of the journal Neurology, they reported that in the years 1993-94, the percentage of strokes in the 18-54 age group was 13%, and in 2005 it was already 19%.
Among the most important risk factors for stroke in this age group, in addition to smoking, are alcohol and drug abuse.
To verify this relationship, Dr. Kissel and his colleagues conducted a study in the same population of people as before. It was a group of nearly 1200 people, aged 18-54, from Cincinnati and northern Kentucky, who had suffered a stroke (ischemic or haemorrhagic) in 1993-1994, in 1999, and in 2005.
Information on smoking, drinking alcohol and drug abuse was obtained for the study group, incl. from the records of the results of blood and urine analyzes.
It turned out that in the study group (i.e. among young people with stroke), the percentage of smokers, abusing alcohol (at least three drinks with alcohol, such as a small beer or a glass of wine, a day) and using drugs increased from 45%. in 1993 to 62 percent. in 2005
The percentage of people using illegal substances has increased from less than 4 percent. in 1993 to nearly 20 percent. in 2005, and smokers with 49 percent. up to 66 percent
In 2005, approx. 30 percent. of the patients had used drugs or drunk alcohol in the 24 hours prior to the onset of a stroke.
According to the authors of the study, it shows that the increase in the use of stimulants by young adults may contribute to a more frequent occurrence of stroke among them.
Therefore, patients who have suffered a stroke before the age of 55 should be routinely screened for drug use and receive advice on this.
According to Dr. S. Andrew Josephson, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study, physicians should ask every stroke patient about this, as drug use is common among older people as well.
The researchers believe that the results of their research are very important, as a stroke at an earlier age carries a risk of long-term disability in the lifetime, and the identified risk factors can be modified.
At the same time, they emphasize that these results do not mean that drinking alcohol or using drugs directly contributes to stroke. It cannot be ruled out that people who do it engage in other risky behaviors that affect the occurrence of this brain function disorder.
It is also difficult to be absolutely sure whether the increase in the percentage of young people using drugs is not simply due to the fact that doctors are able to detect it better and better.
On the other hand, it is known that long-term changes in the heart muscle, arteries, and blood itself from alcohol and drug abuse may increase the risk of stroke at an earlier age.
In addition, some drugs, especially cocaine and methamphetamine, can contribute more directly to stroke, Dr. Josephson notes. If a young person suffers a stroke, he said, it is much more likely to be caused by factors other than those normally suspected in older people.
Strokes occur mostly in people over 60, and the main factors influencing it are hypertension, smoking, improper diet (too caloric and high in saturated fat), abdominal obesity, diabetes and lipid disorders (too much). high cholesterol and triglycerides), inactivity, alcohol abuse, heart disease. (PAP)
jjj / agt /