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Young Stroke (Under 60)
Stroke is often considered an illness of old age, but because many younger people are affected by stroke the term 'young stroke' refers to those under 60 years.
Studies exploring the experiences of younger people affected by stroke and their families have identified common issues
- people wish to be treated as individuals, and services in hospitals and communities need to be tailored to aid recovery and rehabilitation
- the affects of stroke can put pressure on relationships with a partner and within the family
- stroke can cause difficulties with other responsibilities such as caring for children or going back to work
Children And Stroke
These pages do not address stroke in childhood. ‘Care After Stroke In Childhood’ is an information booklet available from the Royal College of Physicians London, for parents and families of children affected by stroke. It is available from their website www.rcplondon.ac.uk.
Coming To Terms With Stroke
Coming to terms with having a stroke is something that many younger people have difficulty with. You may have never been ill previously or have any risk factors for stroke. You certainly did not expect something so devastating to happen to you. It is normal to expect things to be put right or be reversible but the damage done by stroke may have to be lived with for a long time.
After more severe strokes the transition into 'disability' may be very difficult to deal with. With less severe strokes invisible problems such as difficulty concentrating, tiredness and negative feelings about your body image can cause frustration and upset. As part of your recovery you may find yourself questioning many aspects of your life such as what the future holds, your spiritual beliefs, your role in society, your relationships with others and your ability to work.
Will It Happen Again?
Much depends on the cause and type of stroke especially whether it was a bleed or a blockage. Tests are necessary to find out as much as possible about this. These might include testing the blood, measuring blood flow through blood vessels and checking the heart for any abnormalites.
An inherited or genetic condition could have caused a disorder in the clotting mechanism of the blood.
Some strokes in younger people are caused by bleeding from a weakness or malformation in a blood vessel that may have been present since birth.
Doctors Can’t Always Find A Reason
Unfortunately there is not always an explanation for some strokes. If this is the case you have to try and accept the fact that you may never get answers to your questions. You must concentrate on being positive, reduce any known risk factors as much as possible and be vigilant in monitoring your own health.
Retaining Information
Retention of information has been found to be poor in the initial stages of acute illness including stroke.
For this reason it is important to receive information throughout the recovery period. You may find you have blanks in your memory so don’t be afraid to ask what happened to you or you may worry unnecessarily. You may have already been given the answers, but there is nothing wrong with asking for information again if you can't remember.
Hidden Disabilities
Many of the strokes experienced by younger people are categorised as 'minor' strokes and the outcome is usually a good recovery. However there are often symptoms or problem with these strokes that are less obvious than the physical ones such as loss of power in a limb or communication problems.
Many people experience 'thinking' problems such as poor memory and difficulty concentrating and this can be distressing and frustrating for you and for those nearest to you.
These difficulties often improve quite quickly and may well resolve in the first 1-3 months. For others it can take longer.
It takes time and patience to adjust to these problems often referred to as 'cognitive' problems.
For more information see Thinking And Behaviour Issues [492K PDF].
Emotional And Behaviour Problems
There are some feelings such as boredom, frustration with the slowness of recovery, altered marital nad family relationships and anxiety about the future which are completely normal and understandable.
How people react to their circumstances is unpredictable and varies enormously. Mood changes, grumpiness or bad temper, losing patience easily, over-reacting to childrens noises and their needs for attention are all frequently experienced.
You may find that even small failures can trigger intense frustration, despondency or anger, which may spill out in an emotional outburst. This can be alarming for your family who may find it hard to understand your frustration, especially if they feel you are progressing well.
Unfortunately some people don't realise the impact this can have on those around them. These problems can lead to disharmony within families and relationships. Talking about how you feel can help.
- Thinking And Behaviour Issues [492K PDF]
- Coming To Terms With Stroke [650K PDF]
Tiredness After Stroke
Tiredness or fatigue is one of the most commonly mentioned symptoms after stroke but is not part of a medical diagnosis. It is quite common for people to be very sleepy for much of the time immediately after a stroke but this usually passes in the first few months. Many people experience a different tiredness, a profound fatigue that can go on for weeks, months and sometimes as much as a year or two after the stroke.
Often symptoms from stroke are exacerbated by tiredness making them temporarily worse. This especially affects things such as speech, concentration and memory.
Coping With Tiredness And Poor Concentration
Getting Support
Organisations such as Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and Different Strokes help younger people who have had a stroke to get together and share their personal experiences. Many people have benefited from having somewhere to go and the opportunity to give and receive encouragement. Having a sense of shared responsibility to do well and help each other gives people a really positive outlook. Success with new activities can be celebrated and there is a freedom from ‘old self’ comparisons. All of these things help to rebuild confidence and get back out in the world.
CHSS has designated young stroke support in some areas. Contact Us at Head Office for details.
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