Too young for a stroke? Think again!

There is no such thing as being too young for stroke. Your stroke risk increases with age, but stroke in young people does happen, including infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In general, however, most experts consider a young stroke age to be under 45.

According to recent studies, an apparent increasing trend in ischemic stroke among young adults, a figure that is particularly concerning when compared to the overall decrease in stroke incidence and mortality. Although certain rare risk factors have been suggested as possible causes, reports show that traditional risk factors for stroke actually may be overlooked in this population.

All stroke is caused by decreased blood supply to the brain. In older adults, the most frequent cause is a blood clot that forms inside the heart or a blood vessel, breaks loose, and travels to the brain. This type of stroke is called an ischemic stroke. In young adult, however, common causes include infections, trauma, heart disorders, sickle cell disease, and dehydration. As a matter of fact; I recently have a 29 year old male patient in the ICU who suffered from stroke.

In terms of addressing the trend and taking stroke prevention measures aimed at young adults, the key may lie in changing the mindset that stroke is a disease of older people. We need to recognize that stroke is not just a disease of older adults. It happens across the entire age spectrum, and it is really important to be aware of that so we can think about prevention, recognize stroke when it happens, and treat it urgently to minimize future disability. Some prevention strategies for stroke at any age include:

Work with your neurologist to identify underlying diseases.
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.
Eat a diet low in saturated fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Start controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol at an early age.
Recognize and control diabetes.
Avoid alcohol, drugs, and smoking.