Strokes — Not Just for Old Folks
Though they’re often viewed as affecting only the elderly, strokes are becoming more common in younger patients. In fact, one in four — or 25 percent — of all strokes occur in people under the age of 65, including children and young adults.
Because of the misconception that only senior citizens get strokes, many stroke cases involving younger or working-age adults go unrecognized — in fact, they may not even be aware that they’re experiencing a stroke. This is particularly unsettling because getting medical attention quickly is critical to stroke recovery.
Strokes are usually caused by a clot (ischemic stroke) or a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). During an ischemic stroke, blood flow is clogged and the brain is basically starved of blood and oxygen. With a hemorrhagic stroke, the blood pools within brain tissue where it’s not supposed to go and deprives other areas of the brain, similar to a damaged water main where the broken pipe floods some streets unexpectedly and leaves a drought on other streets.
So, the more time that is lost after stroke symptoms begin, the more severe the possible damage. Generally, a stroke must be treated within three hours in order to potentially reverse the damage. I’m not trying to be an alarmist, but it’s important to recognize potential warning signs of stroke and take the appropriate emergency actions if they should occur.
Misunderstood Stroke Symptoms
Some warning signs of a stroke can be misinterpreted as something else that’s not nearly as dangerous, especially if the person experiencing them is younger and the thought of having a stroke doesn’t cross his or her mind.
For example, a sudden, very severe headache with no known cause is a common stroke symptom. But for people in their twenties or thirties trying to make a judgment call on their own about the severity, it might be perceived as just a random bad headache and they may try to alleviate it with an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Another sign of a stroke is sudden numbness or weakness of an arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. For the unaware, this symptom could be shrugged off as poor blood circulation, general muscle tiredness, or the result of overexertion.
Other common stroke symptoms include:
- Sudden confusion and trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
If you or someone you know — regardless of age — is experiencing any of the above, promptly seek medical attention. Also, make sure that these symptoms are firmly communicated to medical personnel. It ultimately may not be a stroke, but better to have a doctor make that determination than risk not getting the immediate treatment that is critical to helping reverse the damage done by the stroke.
Stroke Treatment and Long-Term Care for Younger Survivors
Advancements in clot-thinning drugs, treatment devices, and diagnostic procedures have significantly improved survival rates and decreased stroke’s long-term debilitating effects. For example, the use of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a “clot-busting” drug, within the first three hours of the onset of a stroke has been shown to improve outcomes by about 30 percent.
Still, more than two-thirds of survivors will have some type of disability, according to the National Stroke Association. This can be especially difficult for younger survivors, who may need extra help with quality-of-life issues related to career or education development, social relationships, and generally keeping up with their peers. Medical centers with comprehensive stroke programs may provide special services specifically for younger and working-age survivors. For example, Cedars-Sinai’s “One Stroke Ahead” support group caters to stroke survivors from age 18 to 55.
When it comes to stroke, there are two important things: 1) Reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy blood pressure and weight, exercising regularly, and avoiding tobacco products; and 2) know the warning signs, and don’t hesitate to seek emergency medical attention.