While strokes are commonly connected to older people, this condition can strike anyone of any age. According to the American Heart Association, the number of strokes in young adults is on the rise. The number of young adults diagnosed with stroke in the United States has risen by 40% in recent decades. Another fact is that strokes can take place in young people in their teens to mid-50s, accounting for up to 15% of stroke cases.
Why and How Strokes Occur in Young People
A number of factors have caused the rise in stroke cases among younger adults. While many health problems are the same for everyone, young adults must deal with additional issues such as genetics, pregnancy, and their way of life. They consist of obesity, smoking, binge drinking, using drugs, and high cholesterol levels. If the patient suffers from sickle cell disease, it becomes a major risk. Roughly one in four children with this problem have a stroke before they are 4 years old. We’ll go over the following five stroke signs to watch for in young adults.
Intense Headaches
If a sudden, very intense headache comes on that you have not had before, that could be a serious warning. A forceful stroke at the start of a headache could point to a burst blood vessel in the brain, a condition called hemorrhagic stroke. If this bleeding happens, you should seek medical care as soon as possible to avoid any major harm to the brain. When you feel an occasional headache, it is nothing to worry about, but if you get sudden, very painful headaches, make sure to see your doctor right away.
Numbness or Weakness
You may experience sudden numbness, weakness, or tingling, and it is likely to take place on just one half of your body. This occurs when blood isn’t able to reach a part of your brain, leading to the death of the brain cells in that region. Depending on the region of the brain that was affected, each person’s symptom presentation will be different. As an example, damage to a part of the brain controlling movement from a stroke might result in the affected person experiencing weak muscles or complete paralysis just on one side.
Issues Speaking Or Understanding
If a person has trouble with speaking, understanding language, or gets confused all of a sudden, it should raise concerns. As blood flow to certain brain regions responsible for language is cut off, these symptoms arise. Slurring words when speaking, missing important words, and not being able to talk at all are common results. Sometimes, problems show up as very mild symptoms and take time to notice. If you detect little changes in your speech, see a medical professional to determine if you should receive treatment.
Issues With Vision
Another indication of a stroke can be difficulties with your eyesight, for example, seeing double, blurred vision, and loss of vision in any eye. They commonly happen if the stroke damages the brain regions that deal with visual perception. An ischemic stroke at the back of the brain, called the occipital lobe, may result in partial or complete vision loss in one eye or a damaged visual field. As soon as you have vision changes, make an appointment with a medical professional. Seeing a doctor can avoid harm to your eyes and maybe even save your life.
Loss of Balance and Coordination
If walking gets hard, you feel like you are spinning, or you have trouble handling your balance, you might be having a stroke. A stroke damages the cerebellum, which leads to these symptoms. Additionally, standing straight is tough for these individuals, and they tend to wobble a lot when they walk. People may often attribute these symptoms to a problem inside the ear or to another minor condition. Visit your doctor to ensure the reason for your problem is known and find out if treatment is possible.
