Stroke Under Age 65

Stroke affects more than 750,000 Americans each year and is the third leading cause of death in the nation. It is the leading cause of adult disability in the US and can affect individuals of all ages. Did you know that five out of 200,000 children each year suffer a stroke? Sickle cell disease and congenital heart disease are the possible culprits of stroke in children. In young adults, stroke may be caused by a blocked blood vessel in the brain, drugs such as birth control pills or recreational drugs, trauma or a patent foramen ovale. 28% of stroke victims are under the age of 65. Strokes affect men and women equally in the younger population. Approximately 200,000 Americans unknowingly have a hole in their heart called a patent foramen ovale, which may allow blood clots to travel to the brain. Up to 70,000 patients each year between the ages of 20-40 experience this type of stroke. Younger stroke victims tend to have more problems with anxiety and depression. Compared to the older stroke population, the younger stroke survivor has more pressure regarding their responsibilities of caring for young families and careers.