Strokes have emerged as an unexpected health concern among younger and middle-aged adults in recent years, with those under 50 increasingly susceptible, according to medical experts.

Anise Petterson, 43, discovered a new purpose in life following a life-altering health scare.

What You Need To Know

  • Strokes are increasingly affecting younger adults under 50, with hospitalizations rising by 44% in the past decade

  • Lifestyle factors like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity play a significant role in young adult stroke risk

  • Early recognition of stroke symptoms and prompt medical intervention are crucial for effective treatment and recovery
  • Regular checkups and proactive health measures, such as exercise and monitoring blood pressure, can help prevent strokes
  • Specialized stroke centers play a critical role in providing timely and effective care

“Now I sell wheelchair-accessible vehicles for people who have had a stroke, or obviously anybody, really, people with disabilities,” Petterson said.

Her ordeal began one summer morning in July 2020 when she experienced an unexpected turn while having breakfast with her 2-year-old son. 

“I looked at my 2-year-old, and I was like, 'Do you hear that?' And he just, you know, whatever, baffled. And then I went like this, and I realized it was me. So this, it was an electric buzz, like a buzzer,” Petterson recalled.

Prompted by desperation while eating in a deli in Kingston, she made a plea for assistance to a nearby patron, unable to unlock her phone to call for help. 

“Turn to the gentleman sitting next to me and was and just yelled, call 911. Something’s going on with me. I’m having a seizure or stroke or something, and I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

Petterson had no prior medical history and believed she didn’t meet the typical criteria for a stroke patient. That aligns with a broader trend observed by the American Heart Association. In the last 30 years, strokes among adults under 50 have surged, with hospitalizations spiking by 44% in the past decade alone, according to Dr. Elie Dancour of WMCHealth. 

“High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, morbid obesity are the factors that affect the young and old alike,” Dancour explained.

Lifestyle choices play a significant role, and medical experts stress the importance of awareness and proactive health measures. 

“Regular checkups, being an advocate of your own health, getting regular labs drawn with your primary care doctor all very important things….check your blood sugar, your blood glucose,” Dancour emphasized.

Petterson’s rapid treatment at Westchester Medical Center, crucial in saving her life, underscores the critical role of specialized stroke centers. 

“Went in, got the clot. The second they got it, it hurt. Hurt like a big migraine. Hurt like an intense migraine. And I said, 'oh, wow.' So they said, 'We have the clot...OK, is like one more pinch then he pulls it out. The second it left my body, I was to normal, like this,” Petterson recounted.

For more information on strokes and how to get care, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/cardiovascular/stroke/designation/

This story was updated Thursday with a spelling correction.