Stroke Survivors are Getting Younger & What You Can Do About It 

I was 39 years old - I'm 52 now. Just get moving and keep working towards independence. Well my friends didn't understand - many left because they couldn't wrap their head around how I changed. My family distanced themselves from me and didn't know how to manage the new me. My other half has been by my side every day since.

I was 53 when I had my stroke and was told by many I was too young. I was doing a lot and was under a lot of stress and had undiagnosed high blood pressure. I am recovering, still using a cane and walking 1-2 miles per days. Affected arm still very weak but much better than 1 year ago. I use a walker when I go walk by myself and I don't care if people stare at me. I've lost a lot of friends but also gained new acquaintances who are in similar state. I don't have a lot of family but my husband and daughter has helped me all this time.

29 and four months in recovery. I definitely feel the stigma of going out with a cane at times but more so internalized. Sure I made tremendous strides in recovery but now in the invisible side of it all. As in now people won’t see clear signs of a disability, I’ve lost my income but I still have my job. More so just scared to go back

I’m so glad you made this video. I had a stroke five days after my 41st birthday. I was completely in shock, and thought I was too young to have a stroke. The more research I did the more I realized it’s not as uncommon as I thought to have a stroke in your 40s. My first night in the hospital I was talking to one of the nurses and told her I couldn’t understand how this happened to me at such a young age. She told me there was a a teenager on the same floor as me who had just had her third stroke. She was about 18 years old. It definitely gave me a new perspective. I really struggled with needing to know why my stroke happened, and unfortunately, I never got a concrete answer. In time I had to make peace with the fact that my stroke happened because it happened, and I may never know the real reason. I’m incredibly grateful for how much I’ve recovered, but definitely not a full recovery. Friends, family, and even random people on the street can’t understand why I still need the assistive devices I use. I’m trying my best to be grateful for what I can do, and other people look at me and only see what I can’t do.

27y/o M at the healthiest I've ever been. 15 months post stroke doing pretty well

I’m 45 and got my first stroke 4 month ago. My dad and his dad both had their stroke in their mid 50s. I would tell the staff at the hospital and rehab that my dad was treated at the same facility which makes me a “second generation survivor.” I was trying to be funny, but most looked sad and horrified when I told them the story. Because my dad lived with 2 stokes over 15 years, my family is very knowledgeable about stoke and knew how to take care of me. I went from not being able to move the entire right side of my body to walking by myself in 2 months, so I was really lucky I recover so fast. I still have a lot of health issues to deal but because I know I’m one of the lucky ones. Good luck to everyone else and belief in miracles.

So crazy to see how many young age strokes there are. Thank you all for sharing, helps. I hope you all continue getting well.

I had a stroke in my 40s and was told many times I was still young. There are so many people, I was included, who don't understand or care to understand the reasons people have strokes. This video should be seen by all! Great job Elyse!

I was 23 when I had my hemorrhagic stroke due to an AVM rupture. My life was completely derailed as someone fresh out of college and trying to pay down my loans by living at home. Luckily my parents have been very supportive but it definitely caused them strain

Thank you for acknowledging this!! I was only 44; am 45 now. I am in a nursing facility past 1.5 years, and everyone is so much older than me here. I feel overlooked and odd a lot of the time, for sure.

I was 37 and was in the best shape of my adult life so I thought I was pretty healthy because I took care of myself. I think that’s what frustrates me

I was 43 when during brain tumor removal surgery the surgeon cut into my brain causing a hemorrhagic stroke.

I'm 47 and a massive stroke in 2020. There are too many factors! I get frustrated. I am all about hear and now. Thank you for such understanding, especially about young people who get strokes too.

Thank you for presenting on young stroke. I couldn’t believe I was having a stroke the week before my 45th birthday 12 weeks ago. I was really healthy - going to the gym 4 times a week, watching what was eating, no smoking, minimal drinking. I like how you framed the other lifestyle factors and yes I’m super busy and stressed at times! It’s such a busy time of life as a mum of two daughters, keeping a household, working a good career. I’m doing well in recovery, reminding myself to take a deep breath and give time for me to emotionally heal 💕 Sending well wishes and love to all other young stoke survivors here 💕

I had just turned 41 when I had mine

Slightly off topic, but I saw my name at end of the show thanking Patreon users and wanted to say thank you to Elise. If you can afford it, please give a little to Post Stroke to thank them for all that they do.

Great info Elyse. Keep'em coming. Your such an inspiration not only to stroke patients but to their care givers.

My husband had his right when he turned 45. Several of his doctors have mentioned he is the youngest patient they have with a stroke.

I wish everybody the best. Keep trying and don’t give up!! My son was 38 when he had a stroke. A cranial bypass was done to avoid future strokes. It affected his right arm/hand. He’s going to OT and PT and also to a hand specialist. My son was referred to the Brain Injury Association of New York State but I’m sure they’re all over the state. Thank you so Elyse for your dedication to this issue

I had my first stroke when I was 40 (in 2021) and then 3 more at 42 (2023). Never smoked, about one glass of alcohol per month (apart from some more drinking in my late teens), never used drugs, no diabetic symptoms, very stabel blood pressure etc etc. At first, neurologists just gave up on finding a cause because I wast just too atypical. And then one radiologist found a tiny scar in one of the arteries in my neck, a leftover from a dissection (the inner arterial wall ripped). The scar had formed some sort of parachute in which blood accumulates, hardens out and then suddenly escapes in the form of a carpet bombardment in my head. It's a big mental hurdle to get over the idea of living with a time bomb in your body (there is no fix for the scar because there are no stents usable to bridge the injury in my neck). But every day now feels like a gift!

My wife had hers at 32, CVST linked to birth control. First time on the pill, only because she was started on it because of PCOS. Still mostly bedridden two years later, but very very slowly starting to bounce back.

Yes! This is such a huge myth. I have had six strokes total and I am 29. The first stroke I had was when I was 22.

I'm 17 I had a stroke a month ago I'm from India, Ive got it due to Bradycardia Edit : I do not have any addictions other than my smartphone

I was 23 when I had my stroke, was not even on my radar. Had a declining mental status and my mom rushed me to the er, doctors thought I was overdosing on drugs at first. But once blood tests came back and got my CT scan they put me in the ICU for five days. I don't remember very much other than feeling eerily nonchalant, even with the limb paralysis/numbness and lack of balance, which haunts me to think about. Thankfully after a few months of therapy I'm 98% back to who I was before physically, but fatigue still hits me hard almost 9 months later. No one believes me now if I tell them I had a stroke, saying I'm too young or it doesn't look like I had one. Strokes look different for everybody, and the age stigma needs to be broken.

Thank you for posting this video. I just turned 36 years old at that time when I had my stroke due to my fall (NOT for health reasons) and now I'm 39. Before I had my stroke I was healthy and exercise often. After my stroke I eat even cleaner. Thank goodness I was saving up for my car while I had the stroke because it made a huge difference financially. I'm about to learn how to drive with the car adaptive equipment. It's a lot of paperwork from the DMV Driver Safety Office, and the Neurologist has to sign off on "DMV Medical Evaluation" and THEN to send the forms back to the DMV's Office. I recently got my DMV "Special Instruction Permit" that allows me being able to drive again ONLY WITH the Rehabilitation Specialist before I take the DMV Behind the Wheel. I'm motivated to drive again!!

I'm 18 and i Got a Brian hemorrhage and my dominant side which is my right side don't work and also got aphasia.

I am 35 and was in the best shape of my life. Went in for routine shoulder surgery and woke up mostly unable to move my right hand, and general weakness in my right leg. I had a mild ischemic stroke during the procedure. This was 8 weeks ago 6/3/24. I have since regained some function of my hand. Leg is getting there (dealing with flexible toe curl). Trying to stay positive. God is good.

I was 37 years old when i almost died from multiple strokes! I had NONE of the stroke risk factors! Mine was from a left dissected carotid artery, or tearing in the 3 layers of the arterial wall, not the typical stroke preventable stroke! I read an peer reviewed article where that is the main culprit in young stroke survivors. ...and you can do nothing to prevent a stroke in that case! But after effects is devastating like any strokes.... intensive Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy!!! It was so traumatizing to have the stroke ALONE! and yes, the strokes stole my identity! Im still working on that too amongst all of my disabilities! I used to be an independent person, go on business trips by myself...and now i cant even think about traveling alone! Im working on getting the word out and think that a life coach or therapist could be included at the Rehab center where you get ST, OT, PT. Bc stroke recovery changes your life in split second!!! And im still trying my best to recover!!! Im part of Project BRIDGE trying to change things for bettering the lives affected by this horrible life changing event! June is Aphasia Awareness month! Stroke is the leading cause of it! Where after, i woke up not being able to understand or talk, global Aphasia. I went thru every stage of Aphasia now i relearned how to talk, fluent Aphasia! i always have Aphasia! Living with Aphasia sucks, for a lack of better word! It is so isolating bc you talk slower, read slower, write slower, listen slower....and very few people have the patience to deal with it. I lost all my friends....bc they think that this is all there is . .global Aphasia so i was discounted! I was still ME, but i couldn't tell them so they dont know about neuroplasticity. So as i got improvements...slow improvements....they were already gone😢. They showed their true colors and they really were not my friends, just friends of convenience. So please take the time to educate yourself about Aphasia, how to communicate with a person with Aphasia, etc. look up National Aphasia Association, Aphasia Recovery Connection, Lingraphica etc. to end this isolation!!!!

wisdom and encouragement. Thank you.

I had my stroke at 50 I’m 52 now I’m so so scared I’ve having another one 🙏🏽❤️

I was 30 when I had a hemhargic stroke. Been dealing with it for 26 yrs and not getting any easier. Trying to catch up for all the years of learned non use. We know much more now than we did in '98. It was all heart health, never heard the signs of stroke or I would have went in for my TIA's.

I had stroke at the age of 29. The entire left side of my body is paralyzed. I'm doing much better now.

don't neglect trauma injury as a risk factor / cause

Thanks!

I was 47 and no one in the hospital knew anything about stroke. I guess they are not used to having anyone survive.

I am 36 years old with no risk factors who suffered ischemic stroke 1 year ago and still in rehab

I was 32 when it happened on my right side,I still walk with a drop foot

I was 39 when I had mine and my neurologist thinks it was PFO related. I couldn’t move my entire right side & had two young kids to care for. Nobody understands the neuro fatigue.

Crushing it with the evidence based content.

I had mine at like 32 & they jokingly called me the pediatric patient at the stroke rehab hospital :D. Massive bleed caused by high blood pressure. Wish I had tried CBD (much) earlier, shakes made the early learn2walk stuff harder. Only trouble I ever had with a cane was one time TSA squinted at it & asked me if it was a weapon but everyone was generally pretty understanding. The worst was friends who wanted to invite me over to play xbox/ps3/etc or whatever because it's just not an option for me & stuff like microsoft's XAC that might help... I worry it would just be depressing, d&d did a pretty good job of covering for my nerdy gaming with friends need & I can use a laptop with fillable PDF sheet+digital rulebooks to cover for things that would be tough one handed with that.

I had stroke before turning 31 in this year February 12

At 38 last year I had my ischemic stroke.no blood pressure history I was fit very active but i had to accep😢t

had mine at 18 due to birth control. im 41 now

Two weeks prior to my 60 birthday. I got lucky, am recovering well but it still scares the hell out of me. When is the next one, and will I survive another one?

In January 2024 I had a small ischemic stroke, 1 cm in diameter in my front parietal cortex. My right (dominant) side was severely affected. I’m 6 months post stroke and walk again. Barely writing again. I feel like a worthless POs.

Do exercise s everyday .running stretching meditation.then you will get fast recovery. Proper check upnessesary also eat good.

Hello, i have had 2 strokes,22 and 29 and from Nairobi, Kenya. I have not found any support groups on this topic either physical or online. Please help me with affordable / free resources, Thank you

I was 44 years old, it's been a year my right hand it's dead

Hello madam 4year ago I had hammorragic stroke my doctor saidto memyuwill nevrgaain u r left hand is it true pls reply.

I had my stroke at 35 it's been a little over a year for me now

😔🙏🏻

What can you say about Intermitent Fasting? I'm doing 4 hours of eating.

38 n had one! I was so stressed during that time.They told me I was too young also

I'm one of them 😂 but i'm getting better 🎉🎉

Being sent home, not even 48 hours after I had my stroke and I was still having it because I had what they call a progressive stroke. I was still having when they sent me home the day after they sent me home I started falling down and I called my insurance company at the time and they told me not to go back to the hospital. I was hurt by the sixth day. I’m falling every day I was paralyzed on my left side.

I was very stressed just before ny stroke I personally think that had a big part to do with it

I was 19 😁

💖

I was 17 when i had mine grrrrr a medical misadventure

While watching this posting right below it RU-vid's algorithm had an ad for Taco Bell 's Beefy 5 Layer Burrito as a free "reward" for joining Taco Bell Rewards 🤷🏼‍♂️ Go Figure ?