Young People Are Having More Strokes

ABC Gold Coast

Topic: Stroke

Ben Murphy had two strokes. His life is not the same after them.

Ben's first stroke was not found for three days because he was moved between hospitals.

Ben was 27 when he had his first stroke. He thinks his age made it harder to diagnose.

Alison Reidy had a stroke when she was 38. She woke up with a migraine and thought it was just that.

Ben said hospitals were busy during COVID, so they sent him home after 10 days.

Doctors found a hole in Ben's heart but did not treat it then.

Five years later, Ben had another stroke. This one was worse and he stayed in the hospital for three months.

Ben lost his speech and could not walk after his second stroke.

The second stroke was so bad that doctors closed the hole in Ben's heart.

Two years later, Ben is getting better. He is driving and doing things on his own again.

More young people are having strokes than before.

Over 440,000 Australians have had a stroke. One in four strokes happen to people of working age.

The World Stroke Organization says more people under 55 are having strokes worldwide.

The Stroke Foundation says this is also true in Australia because we mostly try to prevent strokes in older people.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can cause strokes.

Stroke symptoms are often missed in emergency rooms and by paramedics.

Many risk factors for strokes do not show symptoms, so young people do not know they are at risk.

Professor Vincent Thijs says the increase in strokes in young people is mostly for ischemic strokes, but we do not know why.

Ischemic strokes happen when a blood clot blocks a brain artery. They are the most common type of stroke.

Many strokes have no known cause.

Some strokes in young people may be linked to drug use, air pollution, working long hours, and having babies later.

Use the FAST test to check for stroke signs.

Regular health checks, exercise, and a good diet can help prevent strokes.

A hole in the heart, like Ben's, can cause strokes without a known reason.

Many young people have these holes in their hearts, but they do not always need to be closed.

Professor Thijs says we should screen for these holes after a stroke and close them if necessary to prevent another stroke.

Ash De Cotta was healthy before she had a brain stem stroke at 35. She still does not know why it happened.

Ash wants people to know that strokes can happen to anyone and to listen to their bodies.

Ash had neck pain and migraines before her stroke.

She spent six months in the hospital after her stroke.

Ash says it is crucial to listen to your body and question unusual symptoms.

Young stroke survivors have different needs.

There is only one service for young stroke survivors, and it is only in Victoria and South Australia.

Professor Thijs says we need more support and funding for these services across Australia.

Vincent Thijs says strokes in young people are not common, but we need to be aware of them.

Our health system is not set up for young stroke survivors, so it affects them more.

Ash De Cotta agrees.

Typically, people think only older people have strokes, but services need to change.

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