Strokes are rising among young and middle-aged Americans while dropping among older ones. Some public health officials consider this a sign that obesity is changing the age at which this disease becomes a burden. Although stroke still takes is highest toll on older people, comparison of hospitalizations in 1994-1995 with those in 2006-2007 showed a 51 percent increase among men ages 15 to 34 and a 17 percent increase among woman in that age-group. During that same period, strokes dropped 25 percent among men age 65 and older and 28 percent among woman in that age-group ( Strokes Rise fast Among Young. 2011)
That state Department of Public Health wants updated research related to this issue so that it can decide what kinds of changes should be made in its educational programs related to stroke.