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Strokes Striking the Young

1,580 views · Published 3 January 2015 · 1:43 · Indexed 10 November 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2015 · Science & Technology

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Here’s a sobering statistic that may come as a surprise. 
About 10% of the 800,000 strokes that happen in the U.S. each year strike adults younger than 45. Neurologist Wendy Bond sees the proof in her practice.

“It can happen to anyone,” says Dr. Bond who is on medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System.

Younger women were recently put on notice about gender-specific risk factors that could leave many more susceptible.

“It’s really targeting the younger women - people with migraines, especially with auras. If you have visual loss, vision changes before migraines, we know that can be associated with a stroke later on in life.”

Birth control pills, pregnancy and having experienced preeclampsia during a pregnancy also heighten the risk in women. Along with high blood pressure, smoking and obesity in both sexes. Younger men are also suffering strokes at an increased rate.

“Absolutely. And it could be hereditary, it could be a clotting disorder, but there’s young men having strokes,” says Dr. Bond.

The danger is that younger adults are less likely to consider a stroke, and therefore less likely to get timely treatment. On the flip-side, if treated early on, the younger patient is more likely to benefit from clot-busters than a geriatric patient.

“They tend to have the worst strokes as they get older, but certainly younger people can do better with the strokes then the older people,” says Dr. Bond.

Symptoms such as drooping on one side of the face in particular, trouble raising the arms and slurred speech should be an eye-opener. Regardless of age- if these strike, it’s important to seek immediate help. 

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Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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