Too Young to Have a Stroke?—a Global Health Crisis

Abstract

This editorial discusses the importance of improving awareness of stroke in young individuals. Stoke can occur in any age group and is not restricted to elderly populations. Today, the average age of the first-time stroke patient continues to decrease. However, the incidence of stroke in seemingly healthy, young adults remains neglected, and stroke awareness among young patients remains poor, even in well-developed countries. Education targeting two common barriers to stroke care, identification and rescue, should be implemented for both medical professionals and the public domain. Only through education can we reduce preventable stroke-related death and damage in young patients moving forward.

Middle School Students Effectively Improve Stroke Knowledge and Pass Them to Family Members in China Using Stroke 1-2-0

“…Biannual educational sessions may obtain the optimal educational outcome. Stroke can occur at any age, and stroke in the young poses social and economic consequences to society (10). Educational activities at school could potentially improve the students' awareness in improving lifestyle, reducing stroke risk factors and identifying stroke quickly.…”

Why we should raise stroke awareness in the younger population?

“…Stroke in the young is a trending global crisis since it is estimated that 3.6 million young people suffer from ischemic stroke every year. The average age of first stroke is getting younger especially in developing countries 1,2 . While supportive therapy (e.g., blood pressure management) and time‐sensitive thrombolysis and thrombectomy are available for ischemic stroke, the use of such potentially life‐saving therapies remains very low, at <10%, of stroke victims even in well‐developed health systems.…”

“…The average age of first stroke is getting younger especially in developing countries. 1 , 2 While supportive therapy (e.g., blood pressure management) and time‐sensitive thrombolysis and thrombectomy are available for ischemic stroke, the use of such potentially life‐saving therapies remains very low, at <10%, of stroke victims even in well‐developed health systems. This is partly due to the long prehospital delay, especially in non‐English‐speaking populations.…”

Promoting stroke awareness through short movies and film festivals

“…In 2019, we focused our education effort on strokes occurring in the younger population to convey the message that stroke can occur at any age 4 . Based on a true story, we produced a short movie titled “ love and rescue around you .” 5 This short movie tells the story of a businessman who has hypertension and works very hard.…”