Stroke has long been considered a medical emergency that mainly affects the elderly. But for young adults, In France About 140,000 strokes occur annually and, according to Inserm, 10% of patients are under the age of 45.
When the brain sends an alarm too early.
A stroke is a condition in which a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or ruptured. 80 percent of cases of stroke are ischemic strokes.แทงบอล UFABET ราคาดีที่สุด ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ It is caused by a blood clot that blocks an artery. The rest is a brain hemorrhage, regardless of the cause, the result is the same: a part of the brain is deprived of oxygen. This sometimes has irreversible consequences.
And contrary to popular belief. Young people are not immune. Professor Sonia Alamovic Head of the Department of Neurology at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, stated in a recent Femme Actuelle article: “This common disease also affects many young people, especially due to risk factors that are sometimes little known or unusual.”
The numbers speak for themselves.
According to a study published in the journal Stroke in April 2025, a quarter of stroke occurs in people under the age of 65 and 10 percent in people under the age of 45.
In addition to classic factors such as high blood pressure. Diabetes and smoking. Researchers have also emphasized the importance of so-called “non-traditional” factors, such as migraines with aura. Certain heart disorders and the consumption of psychotropic substances. These factors affect young people more than the elderly.
The role of the heart is often overlooked.
Many stroke study participants had a heart condition called the patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is a small hole between the upper chambers of the heart. Found in about a quarter of the population, this PFO, which is usually harmless, may encourage small blood clots to travel to the brain.
The study found that in PFO patients, non-traditional risk factors accounted for nearly 49% of stroke patients, compared to 27% in non-PFO groups. This finding suggests that the presence of PFOs may alter the nature of the risks that need to be investigated.
Migraine has an aura. Signs that should not be overlookedheart
Among the non-traditional factors, one stands out: aura migraines. This type of migraine, which is accompanied by visual or sensory disorders. It is known to be distressing, but the link between migraines and stroke is not well known. Studies on stroke have shown that the disease may represent a risk of stroke in young people. 23 to 46 percent, depending on the presence or absence of PFO.
This does not mean that all migraine sufferers are at risk, but it is better to focus on migraines with aura. Especially if it occurs in combination with other risk factors (such as smoking, contraceptives, sedentary lifestyle, etc.).
When lifestyle habits are involved.
In addition to medical causes, Lifestyle also plays an important role. In young people, stroke may be linked to alcohol consumption or drug use (especially cocaine or marijuana). Hormone therapy, especially birth control pills, may increase the risk. Especially in the case of smoking or migraines.
Professor Alamovich also highlighted the frequency of arterial tears in young people, which include tears of the walls of the arteries in the neck, sometimes caused by shock. Putting in the wrong posture for a long time, or even sudden physical exertion. This injury can lead to blood clots and can eventually lead to a stroke.
Diagnosis is often delayed.
Another difficulty is that in young people, neither the patient nor the doctor immediately thinks of a stroke. But in the case of a stroke, every minute counts: up to 2 million neurons can die per minute if the brain is deprived of oxygen.
Symptoms that should be monitored include speech problems, unilateral paralysis. Problems with vision or balance Acute or severe headaches, even if they are temporary. These signs should immediately lead to consultation. Transient ischemia (TIA) may be a warning sign of a more severe stroke.
Health professionals now call for individualized risk monitoring, starting in adulthood. Stroke studies call for a more complex and individualized approach. This is especially true for teenage women who are faced with specific factors such as birth control pills or hormonal disorders. When a stroke occurs. It’s never too early to find out, get tested, and live a preventative lifestyle.