Stroke was always regarded as a disease of the elderly. However, of late, India has been witnessing a worrying spike in strokes among young adults, with 15 to 20% of stroke patients now estimated to be under 45 years of age.

Doctors attribute this to a deadly cocktail of poor lifestyle habits, including erratic sleep schedule, high stress, long working hours and lack of proper monitoring of critical health parameters like blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, key stroke risk factors.

A stroke can cause paralysis, speech defects, loss of memory, or even death. According to a Lancet report, India records 1.5–1.8 million stroke cases every year, translating into around 130–170 strokes per 1 lakh people. It is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability in the country.

Around 50–70% of individuals who suffer a stroke also have sleep apnoea, a condition that causes someone to snore and wake up repeatedly during the night, leading to low oxygen level and strain on blood vessels. Yet sleep apnoea remains one of the least diagnosed stroke risk factors. Among young adults too, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is now emerging as a leading cause of recurrent strokes.

Early warning signs of stroke include:

Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the face, arm or leg
Slurred speech
Blurred vision in one or both eyes
Dizziness
Sudden, severe headache
Loss of balance, coordination issues
Sudden confusion or difficulty in understanding simple statements

How stress and long hours can result in stroke

# Physiological stress response: Under chronic stress, the body is in “fight or flight” mode, and is flooded with cortisol, which spikes blood pressure, increases inflammation and damages blood vessel linings, making them more susceptible to blockage or rupture.

# Hypertension and heart strain: Stress and long hours both force the heart to work harder, raising blood pressure and increasing the risk of stroke.

# Unhealthy lifestyle: Long working hours often translate into inadequate sleep, unhealthy diet (less fibre, more stimulants) and lack of exercise, all causing harm to cardiovascular health.

# Sleep apnoea: Intermittent sleep as a result of long work hours can lead to sleep apnoea or disordered breathing, causing drop in oxygen levels, surge in BP levels and inflammation of blood vessels, significantly elevating stroke risk.

# Worsening of existing conditions: Stress worsens existing lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension, already quite common among young stroke patients in India.

# Genetic predisposition: Indians could have a genetic propensity for cardiovascular issues, making them more reactive to stress.

Primary risk factors in young Indians

Sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol or substance abuse.
Undiagnosed sleep apnoea.
Genetics (like PDE4D, ACE gene mutations).

Tips for stroke prevention

Have a healthy diet
Exercise regularly
Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol
Manage stress better, seek help if needed
Go for regular health check-ups