Why more young people are having strokes, according to the experts

Young people may feel invincible but that alone isn’t enough to prevent a stroke.

The number of younger people having strokes has risen, with the CDC reporting a 15 percent increase in stroke risk among Americans under 65 over the past decade. Stroke prevalence has risen by 14.6 percent in those aged 18–44 and 15.7 percent in those aged 45–64.

Strokes are characterized by sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking or understanding, confusion, loss of balance, vision problems, or severe headaches with no clear cause. Obesity and high blood pressure are cited as key risk factors.

Newsweek discussed the CDC’s findings with Natalie Mackenzie, a brain injury therapist, and neurologist Dr. Rena Sukhdeo Singh. They explained how lifestyle choices can increase the risk of having a stroke.

Singh said: “In my career, I have seen an increase in incidence of stroke in young adults, which I attribute to many of the lifestyle risk factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, lack of treated sleep apnea, substance use and obesity.”

London-based Mackenzie agrees, clarifying: “That’s not to suggest that young individuals have caused their strokes; it’s more indicative of the impact of the faster pace of the world now.”

What Causes Strokes in Young People?

Singh, the medical director of the Primary Stroke Center at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton, Maryland, explained that stroke risk is higher in adults over 55. She states this is because of the “wear and tear of the arteries in the brain,” along with the increased risk because of age-related factors such as heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes.

“However, despite the incidence of stroke being higher in the older adult population there is an increase in incidence of stroke in patients under the age of 50,” she said.

Both experts have identified the leading factors contributing to strokes among young people as follows:

Vaping

Mackenzie told Newsweek that there aren’t enough long-term studies to assess the impact of vapes, but shorter studies have revealed they increase the risk of ischemic stroke. This occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a blood clot or plaque buildup.

In August 2023, the American Physiological Society published a study linking e-cigarette use to an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder analyzed 27 young adults aged 19–25, including nonsmokers, e-cigarette users and tobacco smokers.

They found that endothelial cell-derived microvesicles—particles released during inflammation—are elevated in e-cigarette users and negatively impact brain blood flow regulation. These changes may contribute to stroke development. The findings emphasize that e-cigarettes are not necessarily a safer alternative to traditional smoking and highlight their potential harm to brain health.

A total of 1.63 million middle and high school students reported e-cigarette use this year, a significant drop from 2.13 million in 2023, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Contraceptive Use

Using oral contraceptive pills can raise the risk of stroke, especially ischemic stroke and, to a lesser extent, hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain). According to a 2023 review of stroke epidemiology published in the Journal of Stroke, the risk is higher with pills containing more estrogen and is further increased for women who smoke, have high blood pressure, or migraines. The risk is highest during the first year of use, but progestin-only pills do not show the same increased stroke risk.

Obesity

The CDC states that more than two in five adults in the U.S. are obese, along with one in five children and adolescents aged two to 19. This comes with health problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, making people more susceptible to stroke. These issues can be managed with healthier lifestyle choices, diet, and weight control supported by exercise.

Mackenzie told Newsweek: “It is evident that increased weight contributes to the incidence of strokes. Diabetes is generally known to increase stroke risk due to its impact on blood vessels and the heart, similar to the effects of high blood pressure and obesity.”

Singh highlights how many young people work in a sedentary career, resulting in a less active lifestyle. This paired with junk food can contribute to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and even sleep apnea, a disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly pause or become shallow during sleep.

“Each of those conditions independently increase the risk of stroke,” she told.

Stress

“Stress in young people has been on the rise,” Singh said. “Stress increases cortisol levels and results in high blood pressure, which can contribute to atherosclerosis of the vessels and strain on the heart.”

Mackenzie told Newsweek: “Our bodies are not designed to be this active and ‘busy,’ and the impact on both physical and mental health is considerable.”

Prolonged stress since COVID-19 has driven a rise in chronic illnesses and mental health issues, according to the 2023 Stress in America™ survey conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association.

Among adults aged 35–44, the prevalence of chronic conditions increased from 48 percent in 2019 to 58 percent in 2023, with mental health diagnoses jumping from 31 percent to 45 percent. Adults aged 18–34 reported the highest rate of mental health issues at 50 percent in 2023.

Mackenzie said: “Increased stress impacts blood pressure and can lead to chronic health conditions, contributes to lack of time to engage in healthy lifestyle choices, and ultimately impacts health overall.

“Fast food choices due to lack of time (often with high salt content, another risk factor), inability to exercise frequently, and a surge in mental health conditions are not optimal conditions for the body, and therefore add to the increased risk of stroke.”

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