Recognizing Stroke Warning Signs in Young Adults

Research has shown that Millennials and Gen Z are at a higher risk of stroke if they experience frequent migraines. Millennials and Gen Z are individuals born between 1980 and 2010. A study conducted using Colorado health insurance data from 2012 to 2019 found that certain unfamiliar risk factors, such as migraines, blood clotting disorders, kidney failure, and autoimmune diseases, are associated with the likelihood of stroke in people under the age of 45.

The study identified migraine as the most significant risk factor for stroke in individuals under 35, contributing to 20% of strokes in men and nearly 35% of strokes in women. Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by severe headaches, and an estimated 40 million people in the US live with this condition. Additionally, more than 795,000 Americans have a stroke each year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Lead author Dr. Michelle Leppert, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of recognizing both traditional and non-traditional risk factors in diagnosing stroke in young people. Traditional risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, tobacco use, obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol abuse, and coronary heart disease.

Dr. Leppert highlighted that non-traditional risk factors become more prevalent in younger stroke patients, underscoring the need for further research to prevent strokes in this demographic. New research suggests that traditional risk factors peak in adults aged 35 to 44, accounting for a significant portion of strokes in both men and women within that age group. In the 45 to 55 age group, high blood pressure is the primary traditional risk factor for stroke.