Patna: Stroke is no longer confined to the elderly, with doctors in Bihar seeing more young people suffer strokes, a trend they attribute to uncontrolled hypertension, stress, sedentary lifestyles and disturbed sleep patterns. Ahead of World Stroke Day on Thursday, they stressed that timely treatment can save lives and prevent disability.Head of Neuro Medicine at IGIMS, Dr Ashok Kumar, said the institute receives at least one or two new stroke patients every day. He noted a noticeable shift in the age profile of patients, with more young people being diagnosed with the condition.“Lifestyle changes are among the major reasons behind the rise. Patients should reach a hospital as soon as symptoms appear, as timely treatment can save lives and reduce disability,” he said.Dr Kumar added that haemorrhagic strokes, caused by bleeding in the brain, remain a major concern in India alongside ischaemic strokes, which occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked.Former PMCH superintendent Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad identified stress, reduced physical activity and irregular sleep patterns as major contributors to the growing burden of stroke. He said staying physically active throughout the day is more beneficial than relying solely on short periods of intense exercise.He also pointed to excessive internet use and disruption of the body’s biological clock as factors affecting sleep and overall health. According to him, an increase in stroke and cardiac cases has been observed in the post-Covid period.Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In India, the annual incidence is estimated at 108-172 cases per one lakh population, while the one-month fatality rate ranges between 18% and 42%.Doctors said uncontrolled blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for stroke. They advised people to check their BP regularly and watch for warning signs such as a drooping face, weakness in an arm and difficulty speaking. Anyone showing these symptoms should be taken to a hospital immediately, even if they seem to improve.
