Unless you’re a senior citizen, and perhaps even if you are, you probably think you’re too young to have a stroke.
You’re not. Stroke is on the rise worldwide in people age 64 and younger, as a 2013 overview study of more than 119 scientific studies showed.
The truth is, stroke can happen to anyone.
There are two main causes of stroke. One is a clot in a blood vessel inside or leading to the brain, which blocks blood and oxygen from nourishing the organ. This type of stroke is called an ischemic stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel that feeds the brain bursts.
According to the American Stroke Association, most strokes are caused by clots. Other experts say young stroke patients have higher rates of stroke caused by hemorrhage than elderly patients do.
The root of these hemorrhages and clots can vary by age. In elderly patients, high blood pressure and cholesterol are often to blame. Younger stroke victims are more likely than seniors to have a stroke caused by inherited disease affecting the heart or circulatory system.
Sadly, that doesn’t mean the results will be different. Stroke can cause serious disability, regardless of age.
Many people die from stroke, and those who survive can suffer problems with speech, movement, vision, memory and swallowing … along with other serious issues.
Keeping your heart and vascular system healthy is the best way to avoid stroke. In addition to eating well, exercising frequently and not smoking, that also means regular checkups to keep tabs on your heart and vascular health.
If you have a disease that could raise your risk, heed your doctor’s instructions to help you stay in the clear.