Health Tip of the Week, sponsored by Baton Rouge General: Why are more young people having strokes?

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Strokes are not just an elderly person problem. They are on the rise among younger people. Many 20- to 40-year-olds are not considering they could have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. About 15% of ischemic strokes, the most common type of stroke, occur in young adults and adolescents. The past decade has seen a 44% increase in the number of young people hospitalized due to stroke. Higher numbers of young people having strokes can be attributed to a collection of lifestyle risk factors, like smoking, drinking and physical inactivity, as well as chronic issues like obesity, uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes.

Learn more about young people having strokes