Strokes are not just an issue for the elderly; an increasing number of young people are now experiencing what is medically known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or in other words, a stroke.
The Luxembourg association Blëtz is using World Stroke Day, which fell on this Thursday, to highlight this worrying trend.
Strokes rarely come with any warning signs and can have severe, sometimes deadly, outcomes, the organisation warns.
Major risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking. To spread awareness and educate the public, Blëtz volunteers are out in hospitals across the country this week.
As Blëtz president Chantal Keller explains: "Prevention, prevention, and once again prevention is the most important thing."
Every year, the association informs people about what a stroke is and how it can be prevented. The primary concern is high blood pressure, which is why they measure blood pressure and perform Doppler ultrasounds on the arteries.
The initiative is not just for show. In Esch-sur-Alzette, for example, 25 Doppler exams were recently conducted, with four individuals found to have potential issues, issues they themselves were unaware of.
Early detection of such problems before a stroke occurs can make all the difference.
Neurologist Adrien Verstraete explains that they do Doppler ultrasounds of the neck vessels, that is, the two carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries, to look for whether there is any narrowing inside the arteries, which is called stenosis.
Contrary to common belief, strokes are no longer just a concern for older populations. The number of younger people being affected is on the rise.
Research is ongoing into what is causing this change, but environmental factors have a clear impact.
Keller notes that the environment also influences the risk of having a stroke. Taking the example of fish consumption, she explains that people eating fish consume all other potential contaminants in the water with it.
The environment therefore can become a significant risk factor, she explains.
To reduce risk, experts advise paying close attention to your diet, maintaining regular physical activity, and having your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar checked on a regular basis.
