Stroke is often considered an illness of old age but many young people are affected by stroke too. It is estimated that a quarter of all strokes occur in people under the age of 65.

Every stroke is different. Each person who has a stroke will have different problems and different needs. Medically the effects of stroke are the same whether you are young or older.

The way in which you might be affected depends on where in the brain the stroke happens and the nature of the stroke. If you are a younger person the effects are less likely to be complicated by other age related illnesses. A younger person may also be more physically fit before the stroke and this will help in their recovery.

However coming to terms with having had a stroke may be particularly difficult for you as a younger person. You may not have a history of illness and certainly did not expect something so sudden and so serious to happen to you For more information see the NICHS Stroke in Younger Adults Support page.