Stroke at 33?

Age No Protection From Stroke Risk

Last year, Jan T. Fair was a busy 33-year-old father and husband, dividing his time between his young family, his demanding job and his role as a part-time firefighter. This year, Fair is a stroke survivor, back to work and grateful to be alive.

On June 16, 2008, Fair was at work as a communications coordinator with Spectrum Health Grand Rapids when he developed a bad headache and his vision became blurred. He left work to visit his primary care physician. After undergoing a CT scan, Fair was advised by his physician to schedule an MRI later that week.

Back at work on June 18, the severe headache and impaired vision returned and Fair also became dizzy and broke out in a cold sweat. Since he was in a meeting across the street from Butterworth Hospital, he walked to the emergency department where he was shocked to learn that he was experiencing a stroke.

Fair’s vertebral artery had dissected, creating small embolisms in his blood stream which resulted in a series of ischemic strokes. Fair, who has no family history of strokes, had been aware that his blood pressure was slightly elevated.’ However, he considered himself in relatively good shape in terms of weight and diet, and lived a “moderately active” lifestyle, particularly in his role as a firefighter.

“My wife’s jaw hit the ground when she got to the emergency room and the doctors said I had actually had several strokes,” said Fair. “She said ‘He’s too young!’ It was a new reality for us both.”

After the strokes, he spent nine days in the hospital and another three months recovering. Fair is now fully recovered and back to work full time, although he had to give up his work with the fire department.

“People of all ages can experience strokes,” said Dr. Herman Sullivan, medical director, Spectrum Health Neurosciences – Butterworth Hospital.” It is a dangerous misconception to believe that it is only a concern for older people. Everyone should be aware of the symptoms of stroke.”

Between 5 and 10 percent of all strokes occur to people under age 45. The warning signs of stroke include:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body””
Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding””
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes””
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination””
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Stroke continues to be the third leading cause of death in the United States. A stroke is a sudden loss of blood circulation to an area of the brain, resulting in the loss of neurological function. Acute ischemic strokes are caused by thrombosis, the formation or presence of a blood clot in a blood vessel, or an embolism, the obstruction of a blood vessel by a foreign substance or a blood clot. Most strokes are preventable.

Since the stroke, Fair’s lifestyle has changed. He now sees his doctor regularly, takes a daily dose of aspirin, and tries to eat right and exercise to avoid future strokes.

“The kicker is that no one can promise it will never happen again,” Fair added. “I assumed I wouldn’t even have to think about things like this for at least 20 years but I learned that even when you are young, serious things can happen.”

Spectrum Health encourages people who notice any of the symptoms of stroke in themselves or another person to call 911 immediately.’ Both Blodgett and Butterworth hospitals have been designated advanced primary stroke centers by The Joint Commission since 2004. Spectrum Health continues to provide stroke care for more patients than any other hospital in the region, treating more than 1,000 patients a year.

Watch an interview with Dr. Herman Sullivan about the ways to identify a stroke and how to prevent it on Spectrum Health TV. More information is available at spectrum-health.org/stroke.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of seven hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, a multispecialty team of nearly 100 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 500,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 14,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care to those in medical need.’ The organization provided $111.1 million in community benefit during its 2008 fiscal year. As a system, Spectrum Health has earned more than 100 awards during the past 10 years.