“I was in shock when I woke up in hospital,” he says, having no hope about ever walking again or living a normal life.
“I kept thinking: ‘Will I be stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of my life? What will happen to me?'”
The construction engineer suffered the stroke in September 2024 while working at a construction site. He suddenly struggled to speak and assumed it was heatstroke, and sought shade.
But two hours later his right arm weakened. A colleague realized something was wrong and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with an ischemic stroke, but it was too late for clot-busting drugs or endovascular treatment.
Dr. Nguyen Xuan Dieu of the neurology department at Military Hospital 175 in Ho Chi Minh City, where Thanh was treated, says while some patients can be treated up to 24 hours after the first symptoms, the requirements are stringent and the recovery rate is much lower than for patients treated earlier.
Unfortunately none of these options were possible for Thanh, he says.
“The patient showed signs of atrial fibrillation, which caused his stroke. He will need to take anticoagulants to prevent recurrence.”
After nearly a week of treatment, Thanh gradually recovered and started rehabilitation therapy.
The incidence of people under 45 like Thanh suffering from strokes is on the rise.
Military Hospital 175 has recorded a 15% increase in young patients so far this year.
They were often healthy with no prior conditions, but suffered from severe strokes.
The World Health Organization says strokes are no longer just a disease of the elderly, and 10-15% of strokes worldwide now occur in people under 45, and this trend is evident in rapidly developing urban areas.
This is also true in Vietnam, where the Ministry of Health reported that last year 5-7% of stroke patients were under 45.
Due to urban lifestyles and work pressures, the rate is even higher in major urban hubs like Hanoi and HCMC.
A doctor assesses motor function of a young patient at the Stroke Unit, Military Hospital 175, HCMC. Photo by Read/Le Phuong |
Dr. Hoang Tien Trong Nghia, head of the Military Hospital 175’s neurology department, says many patients like Thanh arrive too late and miss the critical treatment window.
Most patients say they did not recognize the early signs of a stroke or mistook them for other issues like heat stroke or fatigue, he says.
“Time is a critical factor in stroke treatment and recovery.”
Millions of brain cells can be irreparably damaged with each passing minute, he points out.
Many young stroke patients suffer from stress, unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and an increase in conditions like hypertension, obesity and diabetes.
Some have undiagnosed high blood pressure or fail to control it, leading to strokes.
Cardiovascular abnormalities and dysfunctions are also common causes of stroke in younger people.
Strokes in young people tend to be severe and leave lasting consequences. Many survive but suffer from physical disabilities and loss of employment and become a burden for their families, impacting their mental and physical health.
Doctors stress that stroke patients should receive rehabilitation care to restore function regardless of age or stroke intensity.
They evaluate patients’ recovery potential and create a rehabilitation plan that focuses on motor skills, speech and post-stroke complications.
Psychological support is crucial for younger patients to help them avoid feeling abandoned.
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Doctor examines cerebral blood vessels using transcranial Doppler ultrasound on a post-stroke patient in HCMC. Photo by Read/Le Phuong |
Motor conduction tests have given Thanh hope as they indicate he has a chance to recover his movements again.
He is diligently following the rehabilitation regimen and transcranial magnetic stimulation to recover fully.
“Everything seems precious to me now, from being able to move my limbs to just speaking – things I never appreciated before,” he says.
Stroke symptoms vary, but the World Stroke Organization recommends the F.A.S.T. test for quick detection.
F stands for Face – ask the person to smile or frown; if one side droops or cannot move properly, it could be a stroke.
A stands for Arms – ask the person to raise both arms; if one arm is weak or drops, it is a warning sign.
S stands for Speech – ask them to repeat a simple sentence and suspect a stroke if they slur their words or cannot speak.
T stands for Time – if these signs appear, immediately seek emergency medical help.
*The patient’s name has been changed for anonymity.
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