Global Courant 2023-05-20 11:11:12
HOUSTON– May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and along with stroke education, doctors are seeking answers to why strokes occur in younger patients.
The American Stroke Association reports more strokes in adults under 50. A Houston doctor says he’s not exactly sure why this is happening, but thinks our lifestyle changes may be an answer.
Daniel Gainer suffered a stroke at the age of 29. “This was my first real health problem, and out of the blue it just happened” Daniel Gainer.
His wife says it happened unexpectedly.
Daniel Gainer suffered a stroke at the age of 29 (DENISHA BROWN-GAINER)
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“It started Friday night after Thanksgiving when he complained of a bad headache,” Denisha Brown-Gainer said.
That headache was a stroke, which led to a brain hemorrhage. And after several life-saving attempts by HCA Houston Healthcare, 29-year-old Daniel Ganier’s major organs began to fail.
“When Dr. El-Ghanem came, he said the odds weren’t very good. Even if they could fix it and stop the bleeding, there was no guarantee he would survive,” Brown-Gainer said.
Mohammed El-Ghanem, MD at HCA Houston Healthcare was Daniel Ganier’s physician.
Daniel Gainer’s doctor says 29 is young for a stroke (Joy Addison/Fox News)
“Ms. Gainer, I went to see her twice and I thought ‘I don’t think he’s going to survive,'” said Dr. El-Ghanem.
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But the doctors were able to stop the bleeding and reverse his organ failure. His doctor says 29 is young for a stroke.
The American Stroke Association reports that the incidence of stroke in adults age 49 and younger in the US has continued to increase over the past 30 years.
FAST is an acronym that helps recognize the signs of a stroke (Joy Addison/Fox News)
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“About 15% of all strokes occur in adults age 50 or younger,” said Tracie Morden of the American Heart and Stroke Association.
Doctors warn younger people to know the warning signs of a stroke: face droop, arm weakness, speech problems, and time to call 9-1-1.
Dr. El-Ghanem says researchers are still looking for answers, but he has an idea why this might be happening. “In my opinion, it’s more the unhealthy life we lead. Lots of junk food, unhealthy food. People tend not to exercise because of work and their busy lives.” El-Ghanem.
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“Researchers have been studying the obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cholesterol of younger people now, and the prevalence is going up,” Morden said.
Dr. El-Ghanem also suggests that neglecting health care or regular doctor visits during the pandemic may also be a reason we are seeing more strokes in younger people.
Joy Addison joined Fox News in 2022 as a Houston-based multimedia reporter.
