Strokes primarily impact the aged, but they can also strike the young, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One in seven affect people between the ages of 15 and 49.
The agency recounts the case of Brooke Bergfeld of Bismark, North Dakota, a 29-year-old mom who suffered a stroke not long after giving birth to her son, Hudson. Bergefeld reported many common symptoms, including a terrible headache, a pain in her arm, slurred speech and a drooping face.
She was later diagnosed with fibromuscular dysplasia, a condition that narrowed her blood vessels and made the stroke more likely. There are many other such conditions – including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and vascular disease – that increase the risk of stroke.
To prevent lasting damage to the brain, swift treatment is paramount, as is spotting warning signs early and calling 911.
