Stroke is an acute medical condition that occurs suddenly when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced. This leads to a lack of oxygen and nutrients for the brain, causing brain cells to begin dying within minutes, which can result in symptoms such as slurred speech, facial drooping, and weakness on one side of the body.
In the past, strokes primarily affected older individuals; however, recent trends show that this condition is increasingly occurring in younger people.
Specific Stroke Risks in Younger Adults
Cardiologist and Neurologist Dr. Pham Thi Hang indicates that oral contraceptive therapy increases the risk of ischemic stroke. A 15-year cohort study in Denmark reported that the absolute risk of stroke due to thrombosis and myocardial infarction associated with hormonal contraceptive use is low.
However, the risk has increased by a factor of 0.9 to 1.7 with oral contraceptive methods containing ethinyl estradiol at a dose of 20 µg, and by a factor of 1.3 to 2.3 with those containing ethinyl estradiol at doses of 30 to 40 µg. Ethinyl estradiol is a synthetic estrogen, a derivative of estradiol.
Oral contraceptive therapy increases the risk of ischemic stroke. (Illustrative image).
Currently, most oral contraceptives are combination forms containing estrogen and progestin, which increase the risk of thrombosis, especially if accompanied by the following factors:
- Age over 35.
- Smoking.
- Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m²), dyslipidemia.
- A family or personal history of thrombosis.
- Immobility (for example, after surgery or long-haul flights).
- Hypertension, diabetes.
- Migraine is associated with a relative risk of ischemic stroke.
- HIV infection.
- Pregnancy.
Advice for Contraceptive Users
For those using contraceptive pills, doctors provide the following recommendations:
- Carefully read the instructions for each type of contraceptive.
- For young individuals at high risk, contraceptive options should be selected under the guidance of a specialist.
- Follow-up consultations are recommended after one year of oral contraceptive use to reassess risk factors for blood clotting.
- If experiencing symptoms such as frequent headaches, vomiting, dizziness, or numbness in limbs, seek immediate hospitalization for timely intervention.
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