[Health Tip] Increasing Cerebrovascular Disease Patients... Young Population Cannot Be Assured Either

The number of patients with cerebrovascular diseases is increasing every year. Due to changes in dietary habits and other factors, the number of patients among the younger population has also been rising recently, making consistent health management important.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) on the 16th, the number of patients hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for cerebrovascular diseases last year was 1,171,534. This is a 21.1% increase compared to 967,311 in 2018. Over five years, the number of cerebrovascular disease patients has increased by an average of 4.9% annually. Along with the increase in patient numbers, the total medical expenses last year amounted to 3.0052 trillion KRW, a 29.7% rise compared to 2018.

Cerebrovascular disease refers to symptoms caused by the blockage or rupture of blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. Types of cerebrovascular diseases include cerebral infarction caused by blocked blood vessels and cerebral hemorrhage caused by ruptured vessels.

Among all cerebrovascular disease patients last year, those in their 60s accounted for the largest proportion at 30.4%, followed by those in their 70s (29.2%) and those aged 80 and above (20.3%). There were also younger patients, including 5.7% in their 40s, 1.7% in their 30s, and 0.6% in their 20s. Notably, the number of male patients in their 20s and female patients in their 30s has sharply increased over the past five years.

Common symptoms of cerebrovascular disease include hemiplegia, speech impairment, and visual disturbances. In cases of acute cerebrovascular disease, the "golden time" is critical, so patients must visit a hospital promptly to receive reperfusion procedures that reopen the blocked blood vessels.

If you have hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia, which can potentially lead to cerebrovascular disease, consistent treatment and management are necessary. It is important to eat a low-sodium diet and avoid consuming high-fat foods rich in cholesterol. Smoking, which can increase blood pressure or damage blood vessels, should be stopped, and binge drinking, which raises the risk of cerebral hemorrhage, should be avoided.

Haguja, Director of the Benefit Information Analysis Office at HIRA, said, "It is important to maintain consistent health management through regular exercise and dietary therapy and to detect cerebrovascular diseases early through regular check-ups."