Research: Low-calorie sweeteners are associated with risk of heart disease and stroke
Common zero-calorie sweeteners can increase the risk of heart disease, according to new research. (Scripps News)
Scripps News
Bethany Fonseca suffered from a migraine one morning in October 2011.
Her arms “feeled like limp noodles,” so she kept dropping things like hair dryers and apartment keys. Jacksonville, Florida then suddenly collapsed in his bedroom, preparing for work.
She continued to think of the twin girls who were in kindergarten at the time, as if they were in ambulance consciousness.
“I just wanted to see my daughter again,” she said.
At the age of 27, Fonseca suffered a stroke. They are usually associated with adults over the age of 65, but Fonseca is part of a growing trend where more strokes are occurring in younger people.
A 2024 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the prevalence of stroke increased by almost 15% among people aged 18 to 44.
“There has been a significant increase in stroke incidence among people under the age of 55 over the past 20 years,” said Dr. Lauren Shapiro, medical director of the Brooks Rehabilitation stroke program in Jacksonville, where Fonseca recovered after a stroke. “There are multiple reasons, but the increased prevalence of hypertension is probably the most important thing.”
Stroke symptoms, risk factors for young adults
Certain symptoms of stroke in young people, such as nausea, dizziness and fatigue, are misunderstood or mistaken for migraine or stress, Shapiro said.
“That’s why raising awareness is so important. Every minute is important when it comes to strokes,” she said.
Some of the most commonly rejected symptoms of possible stroke are:
- Suddenly, nausea and vomiting of unknown cause: “If you feel nausea, sudden, sudden, without explanation, don’t ignore it, especially if it’s combined with dizziness or imbalance,” Shapiro said.
- The “thunderclap” headache that comes out of nowhere: This type of headache is usually sudden and serious, hitting you “like lightning,” Shapiro said. “Even if you don’t have other stroke symptoms, this type of headache needs immediate attention.”
- Not weakness, but numbness in one tongue: This may feel like “strange dead arm sensations” or numbness. Shapiro said the symptoms are often dismissed because patients say they can still move their hands and feet, but changes in unilateral sensation can be an early sign of a stroke.
- Dizziness or sudden loss of balance: Shapiro said this is the main cause of misdiagnosis in young women suffering from strokes, and is sometimes dismissed as inner ear problems, anxiety, or dehydration.
- Sudden fatigue or mental mist: “Brain mist, confusion, or extreme fatigue is the red flag when they suddenly attack and don’t go away with rest,” Shapiro said.
Young adults also need to recognize factors at high risk of stroke, such as high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, substance abuse and bulimia, according to Shapiro. Women who are taking birth control or pregnant may also face an increased risk.
After her stroke, Fonseca lost control on the right side of her body and required weeks of physical therapy and occupational therapy. It took her a month to learn how to drive again and a year to feel like she was.
Almost 15 years later, Fonseca still has problems with balance and fatigue, but she counts her fortune. In Brooks’ rehabilitation, she saw how strokes can cause lifelong disability in many patients.
“It’s still a daily struggle, but some people aren’t as lucky as me,” she said. “If all I have to worry about is balance and fatigue, then it’s much worse for others, so I count my blessings.”
Adrianna Rodriguez can visit adrodriguez@usatoday.com.
