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Why we should raise stroke awareness in the younger population?

Unfortunately, stroke in young age adults is not rare. Stroke in the young is a trending global crisis since it is estimated that 3.6 million young people suffer from ischemic stroke every year. The average age of first stroke is getting younger especially in developing countries. 1 , 2 While supportive therapy (e.g., blood pressure management) and time‐sensitive thrombolysis and thrombectomy are available for ischemic stroke, the use of such potentially life‐saving therapies remains very low, at <10%, of stroke victims even in well‐developed health systems. This is partly due to the long prehospital delay, especially in non‐English‐speaking populations.

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 Cannabis, Cocaine, and Amphetamines Linked to Up to 174 Percent Higher Stroke Risk in Adults Younger Than 55

Learn about a study of over 100 million people that found a direct causal link between recreational drug use and stroke risk, even in younger populations.

 Stroke: young people can have them too – here’s how to know if you’re at risk and what to look out for

Importantly, stroke symptoms aren’t any different for young people compared to older people. But since most people don’t expect to have a stroke in their 20s or 30s, they don’t recognise the symptoms or may downplay them if they do occur. Similarly, medical staff don’t expect young people to have a stroke, which may lead to misdiagnosis or not being treated quickly enough. This could have a detrimental effect on recovery, especially since it’s vital that stroke is treated quickly to halt bleeding or treat the blood clot. Rapid response and treatment can also make the difference in whether or not a person recovers, which is why knowing the symptoms of a stroke can be so important.

Articles of Interest

Young stroke: An update on epidemiology, emerging risk factors, and future research directions

The incidence of ischemic stroke among young adults (aged 18–49 years) has risen over recent decades, particularly in high-income countries, contrasting with the decline seen in older populations. This trend represents a growing public health concern, as stroke at young age often leads to long-term psychosocial consequences and loss of productive life years. The increasing incidence may partly reflect a higher prevalence of traditional vascular risk factors, as well as the identification of non-traditional risk and trigger factors such as air pollution, sleep apnea, long working hours, vigorous exercise, and illicit drug use.

Causes of stroke in young adults

But the rate of stroke is increasing at a faster clip in individuals ages 40 to 60 than in any other age group, Lyden said. The reasons are unclear, but he noted an increasing number of strokes at his center related to atypical causes such as migraine, drug use, and carotid dissection. Although the primary causes of stroke — obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, and excess alcohol consumption — contribute as well, the atypical causes are more common in the younger age groups than in older individuals, according to Sacco.

For Children Who Have Suffered Strokes, a Promising New Therapy Emerges

Research on a form of electrical stimulation called TDCS has been encouraging, but scientists still have questions about its use.

No, Your 30s Aren’t Too Young to Think About Stroke Prevention—Especially as a Woman

While strokes most commonly occur in people aged 65 and older, about 10% to 14% of all strokes happen in people younger than 50. What's more: They are becoming increasingly common in younger adults, and the average age of someone who has a stroke is getting lower. In fact, strokes increased by about 15% in young adults from 2011 to 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with a higher increase among women than men.

Pediatric Stroke — An Emerging Public Health Concern of the Future With an Urgent Need for Action Today

Globally, 1 out of 4 individuals will suffer a stroke during the course of their lives. Stroke is a major contributor of disability and death worldwide, and has a high impact on quality of life for the remaining life of patients. While data on incidence and prognosis are well established in adults, data on incidence and prognosis in children and adolescents are limited, especially in countries and regions of the world where the incidence is at its highest.

Stroke rates are increasing among young people. Here's what you need to know

Over the weekend, the model Hailey Bieber told her Instagram followers that she experienced stroke-like symptoms while at breakfast with her husband Thursday morning. Doctors found a small clot in her brain, she said, which caused "a small lack of oxygen." Bieber said on Instagram that her body passed the clot on its own, and she recovered within a few hours. Though Bieber recovered in her case, blood clots in the brain can lead to ischemic strokes, which make up a majority of all strokes. And among young people, stroke rates are on the rise.

Stroke Rates Rising in Younger People

Stroke rates have been declining in older people over the past 20 years — but have sharply increased in those under 55. Researchers at Rutgers University used data from the New Jersey Department of Health on more than 227,000 hospitalizations for stroke from 1995 through 2014, calculating incidence by age over five-year periods. The findings appeared in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Strokes more common, especially among the young

An international study published in The Lancet today shows stroke is becoming more common and affecting more young people. There has been a 25% increase in the number of stroke cases among people aged 20 to 64 years over the last 20 years. The amount of illness, disability and premature death from stroke is expected to more than double by 2030. Valery Feigin, a professor of epidemiology and neurology, led the international team of researchers that looked at data on stroke from around the world for 1990, 2005 and 2010. He said the figures were affected by the ageing global population but there was evidence a

This Is Why More and More Young People Are Having Strokes

That's because most young adults are blowing off certain screening tests, believing that they don't need to be done until you’re older, such as tests for cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. But those screening tests can give physicians a good idea about stroke risk, according to neurologist Diana Greene-Chandos, M.D., director of neurocritical care at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Too Young to Have a Stroke? Think Again

But a majority of strokes that affect young adults result from clots precipitated by the usual cardiac risk factors: obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. Abuse of alcohol and drugs are also contributing factors; among women, use of birth control pills can raise the risk of stroke. People prone to migraines also have a somewhat higher risk of stroke.

Too Young to Have a Stroke?—a Global Health Crisis

Stroke is still a leading worldwide cause of death; it can strike patients at any age. More importantly, its ability to strike seemingly healthy, young adults is often overlooked. The stories of Luke Perry, John Singleton, and these three young women remind us how vulnerable younger patients can be as a result of poor stroke awareness, even in the most well-developed countries.

Why Are More People in Their 20s Having Strokes?

What's going on? Experts point to increasing rates of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Eeks!

Resources

International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke

A stroke can happen to anyone at any age, including babies, children, teens, and even before birth. Unfortunately, there is very little information, support, and research for this population. The International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke (IAPS) was created to bring together global pediatric stroke communities, uniting in a common effort to advance knowledge, awareness and research for these children.

Pediatric Stroke Network

The goal of this site is to bring together friends and families of infant or childhood stroke survivors from around the world. Childhood stroke is steadily on the rise, finding other parents to connect with can often be difficult especially when you are looking to find parents dealing with the same type of stroke or after effects and disabilities.

Pediatric Stroke Warriors

Pediatric Stroke Warriors is committed to serving the needs of children, their families and the medical professionals involved in their care. Family founded in 2015, Pediatric Stroke Warriors has grown into the largest childhood stroke related nonprofit based out of the Pacific Northwest Region serving both local and national communities. We are dedicated to a mission of building awareness for pediatric stroke among general and medical communities alike, and hope and support to all impacted children and their families.

Young Stroke Network

Young Stroke Network was created in response to the growing number of young adults experiencing stroke and the unique challenges that often follow. While stroke is commonly associated with older adults, stroke incidence and hospitalization rates are increasing among younger populations, with individuals under 50 now accounting for approximately 10–15% of all strokes in the United States.

Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association

Welcome to the Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association, a non-profit organization, offering support and information to families of infants, children, and young adults who have hemiplegia or hemiplegic cerebral palsy.