VietNamNet Bridge – Doctors at the Ha Noi-based Bach Mai Hospital's Emergency Ward early last Friday morning received a 20-year-old patient, Nguyen Van Thuan, whose was diagnosed with brain stroke.

Doctor Lieu from Bach Mai Hospital said the increase in young stroke patients was related to high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes - degenerative diseases usually found in older people. — Photo baogiaothong

The diagnosis surprised the family of the patient, a resident of Bac Ninh Province 40km from Ha Noi.

Thuan's mother said her son had lived a healthy life and did not touch alcohol or tobacco and regularly played sport.

She said tearfully that he had no history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease.

"I found him sprawled on the floor of the toilet with blood coming form his mouth. Doctors said he had a stroke, adding that luckily the problem had been found in time to take remedial action."

Deputy director of Bach Mai Hospital's Neurology Department, doctor Nguyen Van Lieu, said cerebrovascular strokes occurred when people fell over, often in the bath, in the street, at work, at parties or even while playing sport.

He said the Neurology Department was overcrowded with emergency patients suffering stroke, including an increasing number of younger people.

Sometimes, there is a rush of patients and three or even four have to share one bed.

One woman said her father shared his bed with four young patients. They came from the neighbouring provinces of Bac Ninh and Hung Yen and were aged between 20 and 35.

"Yesterday, relatives of a 22-year-old patient decided to take him back to Hung Yen after doctors said he could not be cured.

Another 35-year-old patient from Bac Giang Province was taken to the emergency ward for magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) after falling down in the bathroom three days earlier.

His breathing was labored, he had trouble speaking, his limbs shook and he could not remain upright. The tests revealed a stroke.

Last Friday, the situation at the Military Hospital in Ha Noi was similar. All 30 beds at the Brain Stroke Centre at the hospital were full.

Doctors said the patients were mostly elderly. However, after the Lunar New Year, the centre treated many patients aged between 30-40 years.

One 20-year-old looked tall and healthy and had no history of cardiovascular problems, but he also had a stroke.

Doctor Lieu from Bach Mai Hospital said the increase in young stroke patients was related to high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes - degenerative diseases usually found in older people.

He added that this reflected the fact that young people in cities and urban areas were not living healthy lifestyles.

Dr Lieu said lack of out-door physical activities, smoking, drinking alcohol, and pressures in daily life were leading to an increase in strokes in young patients.

VNS