When young people suffer a stroke (apoplexy or cerebral apoplexy), their lives and those of their closest relatives become extremely upset. Although young and fit stroke patients regenerate better and faster, depending on the severity of the stroke, the physical and psychological consequences can be considerable. Bureaucratic hurdles are also becoming a real challenge for family members and affected persons in the already difficult period following the event, which occurs 280,000 times a year in Germany. A fifth of all patients are younger than 55 years of age. In addition, according to a US study, the number of strokes between the ages of 18 and 55 has been rising continuously for 20 years. A similar trend can be observed in Germany. In most cases, the lifestyle of the person affected is responsible for the stroke. Risk factors such as smoking, obesity and diabetes, but also high blood pressure and lipid metabolism disorders as well as a lack of exercise favour the disease, in which a blood clot in the brain usually blocks a vessel. Sometimes a cerebral haemorrhage also develops, which can have even more serious consequences. However, in 30 to 50 percent of younger stroke patients, no medically significant cause can be identified. The affected persons, especially younger people, often feel helpless and left alone after the stroke, which is followed by rehabilitation measures; equally close relatives. Then an exchange with other affected persons and experts with an expertise in this field is very important. Support is provided by care counselling centres and the German Stroke Support Service, which has drawn up a list of 28 self-help groups, especially for younger people. However, the offer in the area is often scarce, so that one has to accept further distances. Topics such as returning to work, partnership and sexuality, as well as financial worries, occupy those affected in addition to physical problems such as speech disorders and paralysis. Mental disorders, such as depression, are also a major burden after the event, which is added to the extreme experience of stroke. Then affected people definitely need psychological help from experienced experts. But relatives are often just as affected and suffer. Then they should make use of professional support measures. Short-term care for the partner for up to eight weeks a year is also possible, although places for young patients are rather scarce and long waiting times must be expected, as it is mostly older people who suffer a stroke.
