Strokes Among Young Adults Surge 44%, Study Shows

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Between 2000 and 2010, strokes among young adults ages 25-44 increased by 44% compared to a 20% decreased among the aged, according to a recent study released in the Journal of the American Heart Association, Medical News Today reports. 

What’s causing the rise in strokes among young adults?

According to doctors, the same lifestyle risk factors that affect the aged, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, may be causing the sudden rise in strokes among young adults.

“When people think of stroke, they think of Grandpa who smokes and has high blood pressure,” said neurologist Lee Schwamm, director of Massachusetts General Hospital, Acute Stroke Services. “And while he’s more likely to have one, it doesn’t mean that if you’re young and healthy you can’t have a stroke too.”

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. To help you detect a stroke quickly, the American Stroke Association has the developed the acronym FAST:

Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

Time to call 9-1-1: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.