A 20-year-old man named Xiao Hua (name changed), in China, unexpectedly suffered a cerebral infarction in August last year.
20-year-old man with the blood vessels of a 50-year-old or 60-year-old.
In August 2023, like any other normal day, Xiao Hua (name changed) woke up, had breakfast in the university cafeteria, and then headed to his lecture hall. However, as he approached the window of the classroom, Xiao Hua suddenly felt numbness and coldness in his fingers and right hand. After that, his face and lips also experienced similar sensations, and Xiao Hua began to feel dizzy, disoriented, and fainted.
Xiao Hua recounted, “At first, I thought I had a stiff neck from sleeping in the wrong position, so I massaged my hands and face. However, the tingling sensation not only didn’t disappear but also spread, to the point where my entire right arm became completely numb.”
Subsequently, Xiao Hua was taken by classmates and teachers to the Emergency Department of the Third Hospital affiliated with Tonzong University, China.
The head of the cerebrovascular surgery department, Dr. Wang Caotian, from the Third Hospital affiliated with Tonzong University, stated that Xiao Hua was admitted to the hospital in a weak and unconscious condition. Therefore, the doctors quickly conducted blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), CT scans of the head, and other tests for the patient.
The examination results revealed swelling in the left hemisphere of the patient’s brain and reduced blood flow in the region of the middle cerebral artery. The doctors diagnosed the patient with cerebral infarction due to blockage in the intracranial blood vessels.
Cerebral infarction is an extremely dangerous cardiovascular complication with a high mortality rate. It occurs when the blood vessels in the brain narrow or become obstructed, leading to inadequate blood supply to the brain. This causes a decrease in brain function and disruption of activities. If prolonged and not promptly treated, this condition can cause brain tissue necrosis due to oxygen and glucose deficiency.
Initially, Xiao Hua was treated with a blood clot dissolving medication rTPA (Alteplase), but it did not yield effective results. Therefore, the doctors proceeded with a surgery to remove the blood clot in the brain arteries to eliminate the blood clot causing the blockage.
The surgery was successful, and Xiao Hua continued to receive treatment at the hospital to improve circulation, acupuncture, and perform rehabilitation exercises.
Xiao Hua said, “After 2 months of treatment, my health has returned to normal, but occasionally when I stand up, I still experience dizziness similar to a hypoglycemic attack.”
Dr. Wang said, “This is the youngest patient our department has performed a blood clot removal surgery on.”
Moreover, during the treatment process, the doctors also discovered that Xiao Hua’s arterial sclerosis was very severe, including the arteries in the heart. Dr. Wang stated, “Usually, a 20-year-old’s blood vessels are more elastic and have a more uniform appearance. However, Xiao Hua, despite being only 20 years old, has arteries that are as hardened as someone in their 50s or 60s.”
Causes of cerebral infarction
Explaining the reasons for Xiao Hua’s cerebral infarction at a young age, Dr. Wang stated that cerebral infarction in young people is often associated with factors such as:
Unhealthy lifestyle
For example, young people under immense pressure from studies and work often stay up late, resulting in physical exhaustion. Stress, lack of sufficient rest, and a sedentary lifestyle are also contributing factors detrimental to brain blood vessels.
Additionally, if individuals have poor eating habits, consume high-fat foods, processed foods, excessive salt intake, leading to overweight or obesity, they are more likely to develop arterial sclerosis or narrow blood vessels. This can lead to cerebral infarction in young people.
Those who frequently smoke are also at a higher risk of cerebral infarction because nicotine and other harmful chemicals in cigarettes can damage blood vessels.
Pathological factors
People with heart disease, artery diseases (atrial fibrillation, valve disease, or endocarditis, a history of blood clots), vascular deformities, high blood pressure, diabetes, or vascular inflammation in autoimmune diseases like lupus erythematosus are more likely to suffer from cerebral infarction.
Head and neck trauma
Head and neck injuries from accidents can twist or stretch arteries, causing blood clots or artery bulges, leading to blockages or cerebral infarction.
Signs to recognize cerebral infarction
When experiencing a cerebral infarction, individuals may exhibit several signs on their bodies, such as the BE FAST acronym:
B (Balance): Ability to maintain balance, patients experiencing a stroke may lose their balance while moving, have vision problems, dizziness, or lose coordination.
E (Eyes): Vision problems, stroke patients may experience blurred vision, loss of vision on the left or right side.
F (Face): Facial paralysis signs, one side of the patient’s face may droop, or their mouth may be distorted.
A (Arms): Signs in the arms, patients may experience weakness or paralysis in one arm, unable to grasp objects.
S (Speak): Language ability, the patient may have trouble speaking normally, slurred speech, or difficulty speaking.
T (Time): When detecting signs of a stroke, it is crucial to quickly utilize the “golden time” to take the patient to the hospital for timely emergency treatment.
