Having a stroke at 30?
Health officials are reporting an increased risk of severe strokes in young patients (age 30-50) as a symptom of COVID-19.
Many of these young patients did not experience cough, shortness of breath, or fevers prior to their stroke.
As the pandemic evolves, more is learned about how COVID-19 affects not only the lungs, but many other organs in the body, including the brain. The young patients suffering strokes often do not have traditional risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
“The strokes that young patients are experiencing occur in the large blood vessels of the brain, which can cause severe permanent disability including speech, movement, and walking difficulties,” Dr. IIana Ruff, stroke director at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI., says.
It’s important to know the signs of stroke and to get help quickly. The longer you wait to get treated, the more severe the effects of the stroke.
“The good news is that these strokes are treatable,” Dr. Ruff says. “Even during the pandemic, if you are having stroke symptoms, you should come to the emergency department immediately. Acute stroke treatments work best when patients can be treated quickly.”
Want to learn more about your risk for stroke? Take a free online quiz by clicking here.
You shouldn’t let COVID-19 keep you from seeking the health care you need, especially in an emergency. Advocate Aurora Health has made a Safe Care Promise to take additional steps to keep you safe. Read more here.
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About the Author
Megan O'Dwyer, health enews contributor, is a public affairs specialist on the integrated marketing team at Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in advertising from Iowa State with a minor in event management. In her free time, Megan enjoys traveling, cooking the latest recipes and cheering on the Chicago Cubs.
I’m surprised to hear about this new sign/symptom of COVID 19 in younger individuals, very scary. What about in the older population, could this also be a sign/symptom of COVID 19, since there are indications the older population behavior changes can occur with COVID 19? Is this something to watch in the older population as well
I’ve not heard of this sign of COVID 19 in younger people. How many patients does this involve?
So critical that everyone hear that strokes with Covid are MUCH more common than what appears to be a very rare risk of stroke from any vaccine.
My sister had come Covid-19 in November, Was hospitalized, sent home afterwards and had to be quarantine for 2 weeks. She then had a stroke i January. She got out of the hospital from rehab 2 weeks ago. Do could this be from Covid-19?