People are never "too young" to experience a potentially life-threatening heart problem, several experts have warned. Knowing the common and subtler warning signs could make all the difference in getting help early enough to achieve the best possible recovery.
Young Stroke Survivor Raises Awareness
Appearing on ITV's This Morning, Niamh Foster wanted to raise awareness that strokes are not limited to older people. She had one at 26 - and is now helping ITV's Coronation Street with its recent storyline of the condition in younger people.
Speaking to the hosts, Niamh said: "[When they said the word stroke], I remember not really realising the gravity of it because I wasn't really in the know. I thought strokes happened to older people."
Niamh was asleep in bed next to her partner Reece when she suffered a stroke. She said: "It wasn't until the morning I woke up, and Reece was getting ready for work, and I presumed that I was sort of sleeping in as I had a restless night. I got up and somehow managed to clamber to the toilet and saw the sort of drooped face. But even then, I didn't think stroke, at 26, that would be the last thing."
Common Misconception
ITV's Dr Zoe claims that being 'too young' for a stroke is a common misconception that could cost people precious minutes to get the medical attention that the serious situation requires. While strokes happen more often in older adults, they can still affect young adults, teenagers, children and babies.
After the programme, which aired on August 5, the practising GP said: "Although strokes are more common as we get older, they can happen at any age. Knowing the signs and acting FAST can save a life and reduce the risk of long-term disability."
Things that can increase the risk of suffering a stroke include high blood pressure, heart disease, smoking, and diabetes. Age and family history also play a big part.
Signs of a Stroke: The FAST Acronym
The official NHS guidelines say that the main symptoms of a stroke can be remembered using the FAST acronym. A stroke is a medical emergency, and noticing just a single sign is enough to take action.
- F (Face): The face may drop on one side, affecting the mouth or eye.
- A (Arms): Weakness or numbness may prevent lifting both arms.
- S (Speech): Speech may be slurred or garbled.
- T (Time): Dial 999 immediately if any sign is present.
According to the NHS, other sudden symptoms may include sudden paralysis, vision loss, or dizziness. People might experience confusion, memory loss, or extreme headaches when having a stroke.
Men and women share the same core stroke symptoms, but women are significantly more likely to experience additional, "atypical" signs. Just like with heart attacks, these sex-based differences can make identifying a stroke trickier in women, sometimes leading to dangerous delays in seeking emergency care.
