Image: The Citizen
Health – Stroke is claiming more lives in South Africa, and younger people are increasingly at risk. National mortality data compared by the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) show that cerebrovascular disease, which includes stroke, rose from the fourth to the third leading cause of death between 2013 and 2024. Among people aged 15 to 44, it moved from the ninth to the fifth leading cause of death over the same period.
Speaking during World Stroke Week 2026, Nurse Gwendoline Peterson, Health Promotion and Health Risk Assessment Officer, said a stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, either by a blocked or burst blood vessel, depriving brain cells of oxygen.
An estimated 1.9 million brain cells were lost every minute, she said, which was why the sooner a person received treatment, the better their chances of survival and recovery. She added that a stroke could happen at any age, including in babies and children.
“Our message this World Stroke Week is clear. Every year counts because strokes are getting younger. We must never assume that we are too young to be at risk,” she said.
Risk Factors Often Go Unnoticed
Many of the conditions that raise the risk of a stroke develop without obvious warning signs, so people can be at risk without realising it. This is particularly true of younger adults, who are less likely to see themselves as vulnerable and may put off routine health checks.
Peterson described high blood pressure as a leading risk factor, noting that it often had no specific symptoms and could damage blood vessels over time. Certain heart conditions, blood disorders and other medical conditions could also increase a person’s risk, she said.
“Risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and physical inactivity can increase the risk of a stroke. Younger people may overlook these risks because they feel healthy or believe they are too young to have a stroke,” she said.
Know Your Numbers and Act Fast
The HSFSA estimates that up to 70% of strokes may be preventable through healthy living, and a healthier lifestyle need not be costly. Affordable foods such as beans, lentils, eggs and seasonal vegetables, along with traditional options such as morogo, sorghum and millet, can form part of a balanced diet. Walking, dancing or gardening can help people stay active.
Peterson urged people to learn the FAST warning signs (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties and time to act) and to seek emergency medical help immediately if they suspected a stroke.
For survivors, she said, taking prescribed medication and attending follow-up appointments helped reduce the risk of another stroke. Above all, she encouraged people to know their numbers, including blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
“The challenge here is that these conditions do not always cause noticeable symptoms. You may feel perfectly healthy but still have high blood pressure or raised blood sugars. This is why regular screenings are important even when you feel well,” she said.
