Man suffers stroke at 23, doctors suspect smoking, poor sleep habits to blame

According to doctors at the Can Tho Stroke International Services General Hospital, he was brought in after being found drowsy and partially paralyzed.

They diagnosed him with an ischemic stroke.

Doctors at Can Tho Stroke International Services General Hospital intervene for stroke patients. Photo courtesy of the hospital.

Dr To Van Tan, deputy head of the hospital's ICU and anesthesiology department, said July 17 that a brain angiogram revealed blockages in the middle cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery, possibly the causes of the stroke.

Doctors performed an emergency mechanical thrombectomy, successfully clearing the blocked vessels and limiting further brain damage.

The patient had no underlying risk factors for a stroke such as high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, vascular malformation, or atrial fibrillation.

But his family said he had been smoking for six years and frequently stayed up late.

"These are silent but dangerous risk factors that accelerate vascular aging, cause atherosclerosis, and increase stroke risk—even at a very young age," Tan explained.

Young people are increasingly suffering from strokes, mainly due to unhealthy lifestyles and factors such as smoking, chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and use of stimulants, he said.

It is an "alarming" trend since strokes at a young age are often underestimated and treated late, resulting in severe consequences.

Though many patients survive, they are often unable to return to work, placing a heavy burden on families and society.

Most stroke survivors suffer long-term physical impairments like paralysis, weakened limbs, speech loss, emotional disorders, and vision problems.

According to the Vietnam Stroke Association, the average age to suffer a stroke in Vietnam is around 62, while in developed countries it is 70-75.

More and more people are developing conditions like hypertension, diabetes and lipid disorders earlier, increasing their stroke risk.

The main causes are sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets (high in fast food, low in vegetables) and obesity, issues closely related to so-called modernization.