High blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke.
Dr Nasli R Ichaporia - Director of Neurology, Sahyadri Hospital (Rajasthan state, India) - said that high blood pressure is one of the most common risk factors for stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds or when there is a blockage in the blood supply to the brain.
Over time, high blood pressure damages the walls of your arteries, making them thinner, stiffer, and more likely to rupture. It can cause plaque to build up in your arteries and lead to blood clots.
If the clot travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke. High blood pressure can even damage small blood vessels deep inside the brain. The risk of stroke increases when blood pressure is consistently 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher.
Why is stroke increasing in young people?
Obesity, smoking, alcohol use, substance abuse, physical inactivity, increased stress and high blood pressure put young people at greater risk of the disease, according to Dr. Ichaporia.
How to prevent?
In addition to monitoring and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, Dr. Ichaporia says it's important to eat a healthy diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and sodium and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
For young people working in urban areas, high stress levels, prolonged sedentary behavior, and exposure to urban pollution are risk factors.
Therefore, you should prioritize regular physical activity such as 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
“Starting in your 20s, you need to get regular checkups, as high blood pressure and diabetes can be insidious and significantly increase your risk of stroke,” Dr. Ichaporia notes.
