Strokes can, and do, occur at ANY age. Nearly one quarter of strokes occur in people under the age of 65.
If you think someone is having a stroke, you should call 911 immediately. Receiving immediate treatment is critical in lowering the risk of disability and even death.

A stroke occurs either when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked, called ischemic, or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts, called hemorrhagic, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding brain cells. Brain cells die when they no longer receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood or there is sudden bleeding into or around the brain.

The five major signs of stroke (and often there is more than one symptom at the same time) include:

1) Sudden NUMBNESS or weakness of face (a stroke can cause one side of the face to droop), arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body (a stroke can cause paralysis on one side of the body)
(2) Sudden CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech
3) Sudden TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes
4) Sudden TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
5) Sudden SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the country.

Among survivors, stroke causes more serious long-term disabilities than any other disease, including paralysis as well as speech and emotional problems.

Each year in the United States, there are more than 790,000 strokes.

Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65 and the risk of having a stroke more than doubles each decade after the age of 55.

Recurrent stroke is frequent, about 25 percent of people who recover from their first stroke will have another stroke within 5 years.

Over 143,579 people die each year from stroke in the United States.

Stroke death rates are higher for African Americans than for whites, even at younger ages.

It has been noted for several decades that the southeastern United States has the highest stroke mortality rates in the country. It is not completely clear what factors might contribute to the higher incidence of and mortality from stroke in this region.

High Risk Factors for Stroke Include:
1) High blood pressure
2) Heart disease
3) Diabetes
4) Cigarette smoking
5) Atrial Fibrillation - irregular beating of the upper chambers, or atria, of the heart. When the atria quivers instead of beating in a regular pattern, blood is not fully pumped out of them and may pool and clot. The clots can then leave the heart and travel to the brain, causing a stroke. Atrial fibrillation affects as many as 2.2 million Americans. About 15 percent of stroke patients have had atrial fibrillation before they experience a stroke.

Other Factors
1) Blood Cholesterol Levels - Higher levels of low–density lipoprotein, or LDL ("bad") cholesterol, can lead to atherosclerosis (a narrowing of the arteries through the buildup of plaque, a mixture of fatty substances, including cholesterol and other lipids) and stroke.

2) Alcohol - Generally, excessive alcohol use can lead to an increase in blood pressure, which increases the risk for stroke.

3) Genetic Risk Factors - Stroke can run in families. Genes play a role in stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and vascular conditions. It is also possible that an increased risk for stroke within a family is due to factors such as a common sedentary lifestyle or poor eating habits, rather than hereditary factors.

All people can take steps to lower their risk for stroke, whether they have had a stroke or not:
1) Prevent and control high blood pressure
2) Prevent and control heart disease
3) Prevent and control diabetes
4) No tobacco
5) Treat atrial fibrillation
6) Prevent and control high blood cholesterol
7) Moderate alcohol use: Excessive alcohol use can increase the risk of high blood pressure
8) Maintain a healthy weight
9) Regular Physical Activity: moderate level physical activities for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week
10) Overall healthy diet

Strokes are no joke.

I have a buddy who had a heart attack a few years ago when he was between 29-31. If I don't pay attention to my weight I'm going to end up just like him because I was skinny and active for the majority of my life then gained weight.

Wow, we hear about that, but most young people have the "I am too young and that won't happen to me" attitude. Thanks for posting that and letting all young people know just how serious stroke and heart attack is, and that no one is exempt!! Haven't we all heard of young people in tip top shape that died of a heart attack?? So for us who are overweight and sedentary, that is definitely a strike against us.

Was your friend overweight? Did he make it through his heart attack and is ok today?

Yes he's fine now, though he has to watch his diet and weight. He was skinny and active when he was younger and then slowed down and didn't eat right.

From what I understand, people who gain weight later in life are prone to heart problems because the heart isn't accustomed to dealing with the extra weight.

Your friend is one of the lucky ones. Glad to hear he's ok.
That makes sense about the weight gain later in life and heart problems. Dang, there's enough we have to deal with as we get older, so we need to try and stay in good shape now to get ready for it. Yep, easily said, ha!!!!