A Concerning Trend: Stroke in Young Adults on the Rise
A troubling trend is sounding the alarm in the medical community, raising awareness of a serious health risk for young people: stroke.
While the number of strokes among people aged 18 to 45 has increased more rapidly nationwide than in any other age group over the past few decades, the number of young people experiencing strokes in northern Colorado has nearly doubled in recent years.
In 2020, around 5% of stroke patients at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins were between 18 and 45 years old. By July 2023, that number had risen to 9%. All UCHealth hospitals in northern Colorado — including Medical Center of the Rockies, Longs Peak Hospital, and Greeley Hospital — have seen similar increases in the past few years.
“This is a frightening trend,” said Amanda Werner, Stroke Program Manager at UCHealth in northern Colorado.
Why Are More Young People Having Strokes?
This raises the question: what’s causing the rise in strokes among young people — the leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S.?
Werner and her colleagues, including Stroke Program Coordinator Melinda Tafoya, have yet to identify an exact reason for the increase in northern Colorado. However, unhealthy lifestyles — such as poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption — are key contributors.
“In the past, strokes in younger people were usually associated with underlying conditions like blood clotting disorders,” said Tafoya. “Now we’re seeing how unhealthy lifestyle choices can quickly impact the body and raise stroke risk in young adults.”
The Role of Lifestyle in Stroke Risk
Health experts have long known that diet and lifestyle play a major role in cardiovascular health. Smoking, heavy alcohol use, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are major risk factors for stroke and other heart-related diseases.
These factors can damage or weaken arteries, leading to blood clots. A stroke occurs when a clot blocks or bursts a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain.
Ischemic strokes, which result from blocked blood vessels, account for about 87% of all strokes — and 60% of strokes in people under age 50 in the U.S.
Strokes Are No Longer Just a Concern for Older Adults
Although most strokes occur in people over the age of 55, the rising number of young adults affected has prompted health professionals to recognize that stroke is not just a concern for the elderly.
“We’ve definitely seen a rise in unhealthy lifestyle choices among young people — poor diet, lack of physical activity, and being overweight,” Tafoya said. “Behaviors like drinking alcohol, using drugs, and smoking can all increase stroke risk, and these often begin at younger ages.”
According to the CDC, about 23% of people aged 18 to 39 have high blood pressure — doubling their risk of stroke. Research also shows that in a classroom of 30 teens aged 12 to 19, one will have high blood pressure and three more will have elevated blood pressure (pre-hypertension). Those with early hypertension are more likely to carry it into adulthood.
Changing How Stroke is Diagnosed in Younger People
Werner said that the declining health trends among young people have led to changes in how stroke is assessed within the medical community over the past decade.
“In the past, if a 24-year-old came into the ER thinking they were having a stroke, chances are it wouldn’t be taken seriously,” she said. “Now, doctors have changed their approach. Providers, pre-hospital teams, and nurses are doing a much better job recognizing stroke symptoms and acting quickly, even in young patients.”
Stroke Risk Factors: Why Do People Have Strokes?
- High Blood Pressure: Strains the heart and damages arteries over time.
- Obesity: A major risk factor for stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
- Smoking: Increases blood pressure and reduces oxygen in the blood.
- Excessive Alcohol: Can lead to high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, weight gain, and liver disease — all increasing stroke risk.
- High Cholesterol: Leads to plaque buildup in the arteries.
- Gender: Strokes are more common in women than men. Women are also more likely to die from strokes. Pregnancy and birth control introduce unique risks.
- Ethnicity: First-time stroke risk is nearly twice as high for Black individuals compared to whites. Pacific Islanders also face higher risks than other racial groups.
Raising Awareness: Stroke Prevention and Early Recognition
The stroke treatment team in northern Colorado continues to educate community members — both young and old — about stroke risk.
“We do a lot of education at community events, including visiting schools to teach about prevention and stroke recognition,” Tafoya said.
Werner explained that recognizing stroke signs is just as critical as preventing them, since untreated strokes can quickly damage brain tissue.
“Stroke is a leading cause of disability,” Tafoya added. “It can result in anything from minor impairments to severe long-term conditions requiring 24/7 skilled nursing care.”
The Importance of Fast Stroke Treatment
Quick treatment is essential because doctors can’t predict how a stroke will affect each person.
“For some people, if their blood vessels are healthy and open, they may have alternate circulation,” Werner said.
Collateral circulation means the blood finds another path to bypass the blocked artery, allowing the brain to receive some of the nutrients it needs. This can reduce the damage from oxygen and blood loss.
“But we don’t know if someone has that ability,” Werner noted. “So for some, it may take hours, but for others, brain tissue can die in seconds.”
The sooner treatment begins, the better the chances of preserving brain tissue and reducing long-term complications.
“If you’re worried it might be a stroke, call 911,” Werner stressed. “Coming by ambulance can save precious minutes in starting treatment. You lose 1.9 million brain cells every minute without blood flow — so every minute matters.”