Preventing Stroke

Each year more than 140,000 people in the United States die from a stroke. It’s a condition recently making headlines after the sudden death of actor Luke Perry, who was only 52-years-old.

“I need to go check myself because he’s too young,” said Francisco Villarreal, a San Benito resident. “I’m 54. I mean you never know things happen.”

A condition Dr. Ameer Hassan, who’s the head of the Neuro-Science Department at Valley Baptist Neuro-Science Institute, said is common in the border Hispanic population.

“Because of the high incidents of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, there is an increased risk of stroke especially in the Valley,” Hassan said.

He says although the elderly is at risk of having a stroke, the younger population isn’t off the hook.

“The average age of strokes in the country is in the 60’s or 70’s. But it can happen to people in their 40’s and 50’s even,” Hassan said. “That’s typically an ischemic stroke and that’s 87 percent of the 800,000 strokes per year. “