Teenager’s stroke linked to unhealthy lifestyle in heatwave

A 19 year old university student experienced a stroke after leading an unhealthy lifestyle, with doctors identifying five risky behaviours contributing to his condition. Experts warn that even young and seemingly healthy individuals are not immune to stroke risks.

The Deputy Head of the Neurology Department at Zhongshan Hospital in Zhejiang Province, China, Hu Xinping, highlighted the increasing number of stroke patients during the current heatwave. The youngest patient he treated was a 19 year old university student, Xu.

Xu woke up one morning feeling unusual difficulty moving his limbs, with the right side of his body, particularly numb. Believing it to be fatigue from lack of sleep, he took the day off to rest. However, a sudden severe headache prevented him from sleeping. When he attempted to get up and take pain medication, he discovered his mouth was twisted to one side, and he could barely speak due to stiffness in his right cheek.

Alarmed, Xu messaged a friend to call an ambulance. A CT scan at the hospital revealed he had suffered an ischemic stroke, a condition where a blood vessel in the brain becomes narrowed or blocked, leading to brain tissue damage and loss of function.

Xu, who weighed around 100 kilogrammes and stood 170 centimetres tall, was fortunate to receive medical attention within the critical time window, allowing for effective treatment without surgery. He was administered antiplatelet medication and is now out of immediate danger. Nevertheless, he remains hospitalised for ten days and faces a prolonged period of rehabilitation before regaining normal mobility.

Further examinations revealed Xu had high blood lipids, prediabetes, and fatty liver disease, necessitating additional treatment. Lifestyle changes are imperative, as many health issues, including stroke, stem from unhealthy habits.

Knowing this, Hu couldn’t help but express his frustration, noting that Xu’s dangerous behaviours included staying up late, eating late-night meals, consuming alcohol, smoking, and frequently eating high-fat fast food.

“Xu admitted that since high school, he had a habit of playing online games late into the night. Living away from home without parental supervision, he often stayed up all night and slept during the day.”

Poor eating habits

Because of his irregular sleep schedule, Xu developed poor eating habits, frequently indulging in late-night meals and fast food like fried chicken and chips. He often paired these with beer and wine. Su started smoking out of curiosity, later finding that cigarettes helped him stay awake and focused on his nighttime gaming sessions, unknowingly deteriorating his health.

Discussing Xu’s case, Hu also warned about the increased stroke risk during hot weather. He stated many people know that low temperatures during the day and cold winter weather increase stroke risk, but they don’t realise that extreme heat has the same effect. Studies show that for every 1-degree Celsius increase in temperature, the stroke risk rises by 10%.

Hu explained that rising temperatures elevate body temperature, straining the body’s temperature regulation system and affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory, liver, kidney, and nervous systems. Insufficient hydration and failure to cool the body can thicken the blood, impair circulation, and raise blood pressure, enhancing stroke risk.

Excessive sweating in hot weather can lead to significant loss of salt, minerals, and water, increasing dehydration risk, reducing blood volume, and promoting blood clot formation.

Exposure to intense heat, especially direct sunlight, can cause blood vessels to dilate, raising blood pressure and leading to complications. It also weakens the immune system, further increasing stroke risk.

Similar to cold weather, extreme heat can result in heat stroke when transitioning between environments or experiencing sudden temperature changes, such as taking a shower or using air conditioning or fans.

Hu added that during extremely hot periods, many people neglect proper meal timing and adequate rest, weakening their immunity.

Some focus excessively on cooling down and consume high-sugar foods and drinks like sodas, ice cream, tea, and fruits without moderation. Additionally, alcohol consumption increases, all of which elevate stroke and other health risks, particularly in the elders or those with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, reported Sanook.