SHOCK FIND
Condition 10 million Brits suffer with detected as new risk factor for stroke in young people
Read on for telltale symptoms of stroke - and an easy way to remember them
A CONDITION affecting 10 million Brits has been detected as a new risk factor for strokes in young people.
Strokes - where blood flow to the brain is suddenly interrupted - are often made more likely by conditions like high blood pressure, but scientists said people under 50 might be affected by different risk factors.
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Previous research shows that increasing numbers of adults between the ages of 18 and 49 are suffering from ischaemic strokes, caused by blood clots interrupting blood flow to the brain.
In many of these cases, the adults in question won't have traditional stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes - meaning these strokes won't have a known cause.
Now, a study has found that adults younger than 50 were more than twice as likely to have a stroke if they suffered from migraines, compared to commonly-known risk factors such as high blood pressure.
Lead author Jukka Putaala, head of the stroke unit at the Neurocenter, Helsinki University Hospital, said: “Up to half of all ischaemic strokes in younger adults are of unknown causes, and they are more common in women.
Read more on stroke
"For effective prevention, careful and routine assessment of both traditional and nontraditional risk factors in younger people is critical.
"We should also carefully screen people after they have a stroke to prevent future strokes.”
The study - published in the journal Stroke - analysed data for more than 1,000 adults aged 18-49 in Europe, who had an average age of 41.
Half of the participants had experienced a cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (strokes without a known cause), while half had no history of stroke.
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Researchers looked into 12 traditional risk factors, 10 less common risk factors and five risk factors specific to women, such as gestational diabetes or pregnancy complications.
The non-traditional risk factors included migraines with aura - which is a migraine where you have a warning sign (an ‘aura’) - chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease or cancer.
‘I nearly died after double stroke and thought I was in heaven'
The scientists also reviewed participants with a heart defect called patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole between the heart's upper chambers.
Perhaps as many as 20 per cent of the general population have a PFO and it's usually harmless - but it can increase the odds of stroke and has been linked to migraines.
The study aimed to determine which risk factors contribute the most to unexplained strokes.
Men and women without a PFO were more likely to suffer a stroke if they had traditional risk factor conditions.
Each additional traditional risk factor increased stroke risk by 41 per cent, while each non-traditional risk factor increased stroke risk by 70 per cent.
Women suffering from pregnancy complications also had a 70 per cent increased risk of stroke.
Study participants with a PFO were more likely to suffer a stroke if they had non-traditional risk factors.
Researchers found that their risk of stroke more than doubled if they had uncommon risk factors, whereas each traditional risk factor increased the risk of stroke by 18 per cent.
What are the symptoms of stroke?
The FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is the easiest way to remember the most common symptoms of stroke:
F = Face drooping - if one side of a person's face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it's uneven then you should seek help.
A = Arm weakness - if one arm is weak or numb then you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards then you might need to get help
S = Speech difficulty - if a person's speech is slurred then this could be a sign of a stroke
T = Time to call 999 - if a person has the signs above then you need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency care.
Other symptoms include:
- sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- difficulty finding words
- sudden blurred vision or loss of sight
- sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness
- a sudden and severe headache
- difficulty understanding what others are saying
- difficulty swallowing
Researchers also analysed participants' disease risk would be affected if a certain risk factor were eliminated.
They found that for strokes occuring without a PFO, traditional risk factors accounted for about 65 per cent of the cases, non-traditional risk factors contributed 27 per cent and female specific risk factors made up nearly 19 per cent of the cases.
In contrast, for strokes associated with a PFO, traditional risk factors contributed about 34 per cent, uncommon risk factors accounted for 49 per cent and female specific risk factors represented about 22 per cent.
Migraines with aura were the leading non-traditional risk factor in strokes of unknown origin.
The risk of stroke in people with migraines was highest in those with a PFO - 46 per cent, compared to those without the heart condition.
Dr Putaala said: “We were surprised by the role of non-traditional risk factors, especially migraine headaches, which seems to be one of the leading risk factors in the development of strokes in younger adults.
“Our results should inform the health professional community to develop a more tailored approach to risk factor assessment and management.
"We should be asking young women if they have a history of migraine headaches and about other nontraditional risk factors.”
Tracy Madsen, chair of the Clinical Cardiology/Stroke Women’s Health Science Committee at the American Heart Association - who wasn't involved in the study, said: "We know that stroke risk changes based on sex and age.
"For instance, recent data shows that younger women may have a higher risk of stroke than younger men.
"However, during middle age, men usually have a higher risk.
"Recognising specific risks that affect women and those not commonly seen, such as migraine with aura and pregnancy complications as significant contributors to stroke risk in younger women, could change our approach to screening for these risks and educating our patients throughout their lives.”
Researchers noted that their study was observational, meaning it can't prove cause and effect between migraine and stroke.
The study also relied on patient to report risk factors, which may have impacted accuracy.
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UK research suggests that strokes in young people are on the rise.
of 94,000 people registered with GP practices in Oxfordshire over a 20-year period found that 2002-2010 and 2010-2018, there was a 67 per cent increase in stroke incidence among adults aged under 55.
The 9 signs an migraine is coming
We all get headaches from time-to-time, but migraines can present a whole host of different issues.
They are debilitating and affect around one in seven people, with some losing up to eight days a month due to the pain.
Dr Katy Munro, from the said there are nine ways you can predict their arrival.
- Throbbing
A migraine often starts as a dull ache but can develop into a severe, throbbing pain, making daily activities difficult. Movement can worsen the pain. - Stiffness and pain
The cervico-trigeminal nerve system activates, causing pain to travel to the neck and shoulders, leading to tightness and discomfort, which can trigger a migraine attack. - Fatigue
Fatigue is common before and after migraines, with people experiencing low energy and frequent yawning. Poor sleep, blood glucose fluctuations, and dehydration contribute. - Nausea and vomiting
Migraines slow down the gut, causing nausea and vomiting. They also reduce the effectiveness of painkillers, and children may experience abdominal pain. - Sensitivity
A migraine causes a wave of electrical activity in the brain, leading to sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and smell. Aura symptoms like visual disturbances or tingling may occur before the headache. - Hormones
Women are more likely to suffer migraines due to hormonal changes in oestrogen, which can worsen during periods, pregnancy, and perimenopause. - Mood changes and brain fog
Migraines often cause irritability, depression, and brain fog, which can impact work or school performance. - Dizziness
Dizziness may accompany migraines, particularly with Vestibular migraines, where lightheadedness and unsteadiness occur without significant headache. - Weakness
Some experience temporary weakness on one side of the body (hemiplegic migraine), while others may have speech difficulties, which usually resolve within an hour.
Migraines vary in severity, and while some may only occur once or twice, others can last for days, impacting daily life.
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