Guidebook on Stroke in Young Adults provides tools, tips to promote recovery
The first-ever resource book for young adult stroke survivors and their families has been released by the HSF Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, University of Toronto Stroke Program and Heart and Stroke Foundation.
The highly anticipated 60-page Stroke in Young Adults guide shares the expertise of dozens of clinicians, survivors and caregivers to answer more than 25 common questions and concerns facing young adults and their families after stroke.
Topics include dealing with pain, changing relationships, return-to-work, return-to-school, regaining a drivers’ licence, prevention of another stroke, communication disorders and more.
“Although usually associated with the elderly, stroke can happen at any age,” says neurologist Dr. Rick Swartz of the University of Toronto Stroke Program and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. “About four of every 100 strokes happen in people ages 18 to 45.”
Stroke affects about one of every 10,000 young adults in Canada every year.
While death rates have declined dramatically in a decade, the number of strokes among younger people has risen, according to a 2014 report by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. International studies predict stroke rates among younger adults will double in the next 15 years.
“Young adults will be living with the after-effects of stroke for a very long period of time and urgently need help to make the best possible recovery,” says Dr. Dale Corbett, Scientific Director and CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery.
Although factors such as heart problems, neck injuries, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, stress, recreational drug use, and genetics play a role, about one third of the time the cause of stroke among 18- to 45-year-olds is unknown.
Click here to download the pdf.