The increased incidence of stroke amongst young people is becoming worrisome!
What could be the cause of this new trend?
Drug abuse is a major social and medical problem and has become a significant risk factor for developing stroke, more so in young people who do not have the usual underlying health problems (such as hypertension and diabetes) that lead to a stroke.
Studies have shown that drug abusers in geographic areas where there is high use of these illicit drugs have an increased risk of stroke (both hemorrhagic and ischemic). It is an established fact that drug abuse is a frequent cause of stroke. Thus, it becomes important to screen for illicit drug use in young patients with stroke of no obvious cause.
Some of these drugs can cause a stroke by directly damaging the blood vessels in the brain while others cause a stroke by impairing other organs in the body like the kidney, heart and liver.
The commonly abused drugs that increase the risk of developing stroke include cocaine, amphetamine and heroin.
Cocaine increases the risk of stroke by rapidly increasing blood pressure, causing bleeding in the brain. Cocaine can also increase heart rate and body temperature and decrease oxygen in the blood hence increasing the risk of developing stroke.
It is important to note that of all illicit drugs, cocaine is probably the worst because of its acute and long-term impacts associated with stroke.
Equally, heroin can decrease oxygen in the blood leading to an increase in the risk of developing a stroke. Additionally, because heroin is injected, it also increases the risk of transmittable diseases such as HIV and hepatitis gotten by the sharing of needles.
The overuse of amphetamine produces sudden and extremely high blood pressure which is the topmost risk factor for stroke. Amphetamine causes abnormal functioning in the blood vessels of the brain and short term use may result in a sudden stroke during or after use.
As it is always said, “prevention is a better option than cure”, it is best to abstain from illicit drugs to prevent risk of stroke and other diseases associated with it.
Thanks for reading.
Stroke club, thanks for the information
Remarkable write up. I was wondering the write cold extend to explore risks also associated with alcohol and marijuana since these is common among teenagerss significant numbers still in 2ndry schools.
Weldone guys, you rock.
Beautiful write-up…. Keep it up
Quite interesting. Illicit drugs impact a lot on the functionality of the brain cells arteries and vessels. There may be death of brain cells, blockage of vessels, rupture of arteries…This in turn can cause speech problems and weak muscles of the face, which can cause drooling, numbness or tingling in the leg, arm, or face. A stroke involving the base of the brain can affect balance, vision, and swallowing functions. A stroke can cause difficulty breathing and even unconsciousness. There is therefore a need for continues awareness and advocacy on the dangers of consumption of illicit drugs.