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June 21, 2004

Young Stroke Victims

PITTSBURGH (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- About 800,000 people suffer from a stroke

each year. While most stroke victims are over age 50, they're not the only

ones affected by the nation's number three killer. It may surprise you how

early a stroke can strike. To protect yourself or loved ones, there is

information you need about stroke in young people.

Bernie Tirpak and appreciate the little experiences today,

but there was nothing little about the scare they got two years ago. " It

felt like someone was cutting my legs out from under me, and I had a tingly

numbness on my whole left side. I said, 'I can't see anything, and I can't

read anything,' " Tirpak says.

Tipak's symptoms were textbook, but for a condition not normally associated

with a 29-year old. He says, " They said I had a stroke, and I was floored. "

Tudor Jovin, M.D., a stroke neurologist at University of Pittsburgh Medical

Center/VA Medical Center, says about 10 percent of stroke victims are under

50 -- some even infants. " Young people tend to have less of the common risk

factors for stroke that we encounter in the elderly population, such as

hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, " Dr. Jovin says. For young people,

the stroke is more likely caused by a blocked blood vessel in the brain,

certain drugs or trauma, or a hole in the heart.

The good news is treatment is available. Dr. Jovin says, " The earlier the

intervention occurs, the more brain is salvaged. The brain doesn't hang in

there for too long. "

Tirpak got to the hospital and a long 18 hours later had his stroke

diagnosed. " We're very lucky that he just had the vision impairment because

that's all, really, he's left with, " says , Tirpak's fiancé. Tirpak

tells Ivanhoe, " What this did for me was, savor what life has to offer. "

Now, they are educating others with their Web site -- generation " S " .

Drugs currently available to treat strokes and minimize the long-term

effects have to be used within three hours for the best outcomes. Because of

this, doctors stress the importance of knowing the signs of a stroke no

matter what your age.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by

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