Using addictive substances, many young people have strokes
Health - Medical - Posted date: 15:46, July 9, 2023
On July 9, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Huy Thang, Head of the Department of Cerebrovascular Diseases, People's Hospital 115, said that all three patients were admitted to the hospital late, past the golden hour, and could not be treated with revascularization, but only with medication and physical therapy.
These three patients used drugs before being admitted to the hospital. Typically, a young man used amphetamine - a substance that stimulates the central nervous system causing excitement. This substance, when used in low to moderate doses, has the effect of improving mood, increasing alertness and concentration in tired people. When used in high doses, long term, it can lead to psychotic states such as paranoia, hallucinations, and violence.
Many studies have shown that amphetamine users have a four-fold increased risk of stroke, which can occur within hours of using the substance. Three months ago, the hospital also admitted a 30-year-old man with a stroke related to amphetamine use, according to Dr. Thang.
Addictive substances in general can cause users to have blood vessel constriction, reducing blood flow to the brain; creating blood clots that cause embolism; disrupting heart rhythms or causing vasculitis, which can lead to stroke.
Dr. Thang also said that many of the stroke patients related to drug use recently treated at the hospital were quite young. Unfortunately, they were admitted to the hospital late, past the golden treatment period, and were able to save their lives but had to live with disabilities, like the three young men above. "These cases are very unfortunate, their future is over due to the consequences of their lifestyle," Dr. Thang said.
For the elderly, the main causes of stroke are high blood pressure, diabetes, lipid metabolism disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, for young people, unhealthy lifestyles with the use of tobacco, alcohol, and addictive drugs... the risk of stroke comes much earlier than normal.
According to VnExpress