Page 116 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2025

The Rising
Risk of
story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of Memorial Health System
Strokes are one of the most frightening illnesses for people of all ages and genders. According to research by the American Heart Association, the rate of stroke has been steadily rising among Americans younger than 49 for the past 30 years. Young and middle-aged people may look and feel healthy,
and they may believe they are safe from major cardiovascular events. Some rare conditions can predispose some people to stroke
He adds that neck trauma leading to cervical artery dissection, which is a tear in the lining of an artery in the neck, is another leading cause of stroke under 50. “Also, inflammation of the blood vessels and autoimmune disease including lupus and vasculitis as well as infections such as endocarditis or HIV are often seen in patients under the age of 50 presenting with strokes.”
Whatever the victim’s age, stroke symptoms typically seen in both men and women include sudden onset of weakness and numbness on one side of the body; altered level of consciousness including confusion as well as difficulty with speech; visual disturbance such as a sudden loss of vision in one eye or both eyes; dizziness with gait difficulty and loss of balance or coordination.
“Women are more likely to have generalized weakness and painful symptoms, including possible shortness of breath and more agitation and disorientation,” Voulters says. “Women are more likely to have more atypical symptoms of stroke than men.”
Stroke survival and disability rates vary depending on the type of stroke, its severity, the patient’s age, how quickly appropriate treatment is initiated, and access to rehabilitation, the doctor explains.
“In younger patients under 50 years, there are often higher survival rates greater than 90 percent at one year,” he says. “Early intervention for acute strokes and early initiation of intensive rehabilitation programs greatly influence rates of survival and good recovery. Anyone with the sudden onset of stroke-like symptoms needs to call 911 immediately and get transferred to a stroke-ready hospital ER or facility.”
Memorial Health System Neurologist Dr. Lee Voulters.
at a young age. But most risk factors for stroke in young adults are similar to those in older adults: high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity.
Silent risk factors for stroke in young adults include sedentary lifestyle, substance use including tobacco, nicotine, alcohol, and illicit drugs, and stress.
Memorial Health System Neurologist Dr. Lee Voulters says in addition that cardiac causes are important in younger people including valvular heart
disease as well as patent foramen ovale (or hole in the heart). “Other conditions that can cause concern are blood clotting disorders, particularly seen in younger people including
sickle cell disease, hormonal factors in women including oral contraceptive pills, especially when combined with smoking as well as pregnancy and postpartum.”
BALANCE
Does the person have a sudden loss of balance?
EYES
Has the person lost vision?
FACE
Does the person’s face droop?
ARM
Is one arm weak or numb?
SPEECH
Is their speech slurred or strange?
TIME
What time did symptoms start?
116 | June 2025
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TIME IS CRITICAL... CALL 911!