A recent study in Neurology investigated the relationship between self-perceived stress and cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) in young adults aged 18 to 49. CIS refers to a type of stroke where the cause remains unknown despite thorough medical evaluation. The study included 426 patients who had experienced a first-time CIS and compared them to 426 stroke-free individuals matched by age and sex.
Participants assessed their stress levels over the past month using a modified version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), which measures how stressful individuals perceive their lives to be. The PSS scores were categorized into three levels: low (0–13), moderate (14–26), and high (27–40).
The findings revealed that 46.2% of stroke patients reported at least moderate stress levels, compared to 33.3% of the control group, indicating a significant association between higher self-perceived stress and the occurrence of CIS. This association was particularly evident in women and individuals under 40. Even after accounting for traditional stroke risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking, higher stress levels remained independently linked to an increased risk of CIS.
These results suggest that managing stress could be an important factor in reducing the risk of cryptogenic strokes, especially among young adults. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms connecting stress and stroke, which could lead to more effective prevention strategies.
For some ideas of how to find calm when your mind is racing, try some of the grounding techniques featured on Healthline.
