Many Young U.S. Adults Deceiving Themselves About Health

Many Young U.S. Adults Deceiving Themselves About Health
Monday, May 2, 2011
By: Catharine Paddock, PhD

Catharine Paddock, PhD

Many young adults in the US are deceiving themselves about health: nine out of ten believe they follow a healthy lifestyle, but in reality most consume too much fast food, alcohol, and sugary drinks, and have lifestyles that put them at higher risk of stroke, according to a new survey reported this week.

The findings of the survey, conducted by the American Stroke Association (AHA), are released now to coincide with May being American Stroke Month.

In the US, every 40 seconds someone has a stroke.

A stroke is when a blood vessel leading to the brain or in the brain itself bursts or is blocked by a blood clot, thereby cutting off vital oxygen-rich blood to the brain, causing tissue to die. In severe cases, strokes paralyze and immobilize people.