Learn about risk factors for having a stroke at a young age, symptoms to watch for and what to do if you think someone is having a stroke.
Stroke at a Young Age: What Young and Middle-Aged Adults Need to Know
Although strokes are often associated with older adults, the risk of stroke for young and middle-aged adults is growing. In the U.S., someone has a stroke every 40 seconds. About 1 in 7 strokes happen in people ages 15 to 49.
Some risk factors are exclusive to or more common in young and middle-aged adults, including a tear in the carotid or vertebral artery, major blood vessels that supply blood to the brain, as well as experiencing migraine headaches. Women are at an increased risk if they use birth control pills containing estrogen and during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Although you can't eliminate all risk factors for stroke, you can take action to lower your chance of having a stroke at a young age.
Types of Strokes
A stroke occurs when blood flow is interrupted in the brain. There are two types of strokes:
- Hemorrhagic stroke – This type happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts open or leaks.
- Ischemic stroke – Nearly 9 in 10 strokes are ischemic strokes, which occur when blood flow to the brain is stopped by a blood clot or coronary artery disease.
Both hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes are on the rise in younger adults. Still, some people have a higher risk than others.
Risk Factors for Stroke
Many stroke-associated health conditions common in older adults are now seen in younger adults, which means people are at risk for stroke at a younger age. These conditions include diabetes, heart disease, High blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.
In addition, other health conditions and factors can increase your risk, such as:
- A personal or family history of stroke
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common type of irregular heartbeat
- Being labeled female at birth
- Long-term stress
- Sickle cell disease
- Sleep apnea
You're also at a higher risk for stroke if you have certain unhealthy lifestyle factors. To reduce your stroke risk, you'll want to eat healthily by reducing fat and salt intake, limiting alcohol, exercising, and not smoking or using illegal drugs.
Symptoms to Watch For
All strokes are emergencies that require immediate treatment. The faster you receive care for a stroke, the lower your risk for death or permanent disability. Some treatments are only effective for about 4.5 hours after symptoms start.
Use the acronym F.A.S.T. to determine if someone is having a stroke:
- F – Face drooping – Ask the person to smile and look for face drooping on one side.
- A – Arm weakness – Instruct the person to raise their arms, noticing if one arm drifts downward.
- S – Speech difficulty – Listen for slurred speech or problems with speaking or understanding speech.
- T – Time to call 9-1-1 – Call for help immediately if you notice any of these signs.
Preventing Stroke at a Young Age
You can reduce your risk of a cardiovascular event, such as a stroke or heart attack, by:
- Avoiding or quitting smoking
- Exercising at least 150 minutes a week
- Having an annual checkup
- Limiting alcohol
- Lowering your stress level
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing chronic health conditions