If you think that strokes only affect old people, think again. Strokes occurring in younger victims are on the rise.

Historically, your chances of having a stroke increase with age. But a study has shown that younger people are increasingly at risk of having a stroke – and doctors aren’t exactly sure why.

One theory is that advanced technology such as MRIs allows doctors to detect smaller strokes. Another credits awareness as the reason for the increase. Another likely reason is that risk factors are actually increasing in people younger than age 55.

According to a recent study, risky lifestyle factors that increase your chance of having a stroke include:


High blood pressure
Also known as hypertension, this silent killer is the leading cause of stroke. While high blood pressure is hereditary, it is also a condition that can be controlled with lifestyle changes, such as more exercise and a quality diet.

Smoking
Smoking increases plaque buildup in your arteries, thickens your blood and increases clot formation. Nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke also damage your cardiovascular system, doubling your risk for a stroke to occur.

Obesity and lack of physical activity
Diets high in sodium and sugar and low in fruits and vegetables are a major culprit in poor cardiovascular health among young people. Likewise, a sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of stroke.

Diabetes
Keeping your blood sugar under control is key. While diabetes is treatable, having the disease increases your chance of having a stroke.

Excessive drinking
For middle-aged people, having one alcoholic drink a day probably reduces the risk of stroke by up to one-fifth. However, another study found heavy drinkers, or those who have more than three drinks a day on average, tend to have strokes at an earlier age.

Other factors
Depression, mood disorders and other types of psychological distress have been found to elevate stroke risk by 11 percent.

Of all populations, younger African Americans are the most at risk. “African Americans already had the highest rate of stroke hospitalizations, and it has unfortunately increased,” said Lucas Ramirez, MD, neurology resident at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. “This reinforces that we need to make sure that our efforts for stroke prevention and education reach all groups.”

Source : http:///83sj5v/#https://www.keckmedicine.org/these-risky-behaviors-increase-your-chance-of-stroke/

From experience, hypertension is the most common culprit.
Let's endeavour to check our blood pressure at least once in 3 months for those who are not known to have hypertension.
For those who have been told at one point or the other, please to live in denial. Use your u medications, check your blood pressure regularly and attend your clinic follow up.

If you know that any of your parents has hypertension, kindly remind them to take their medications, check their blood pressure often and attend their clinic appointment.
For those that can afford it, get yourself/parents automated sphygmomanometer for home blood pressure check and keep a records of it.