An asymmetrical smile, an arm that no longer responds, words that don’t come out: in a young adult too, these signs can suggest a stroke. In the show The advice of Doctor Kierzek, broadcast on ICI on October 22, 2026, the doctor and columnist emphasizes the central reflex: immediate call to 15.
Strokes don’t just affect older people
Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical, describes the increase in strokes among 20-54 year olds as a warning signal. He cites an American study published in Neurology in 2026: in a region of Ohio and Kentucky, the incidence increased from 33.9 to 62.2 cases per 100,000 person-years between 1993-1994 and 2020. However, remember: this is a worrying trend, not a photograph of France.
In France, stroke remains more frequent with age, but not reserved for seniors. Public Health France reports that in 2022, 25.4% of adults hospitalized for stroke were under 65 years old. The same year, 78% were ischemicthat is to say linked to the obstruction of an artery. This is what Dr. Kierzek sums up by speaking of a “brain attack”: the brain suddenly lacks oxygen, or more rarely an artery ruptures and causes a hemorrhage.
In the column, the doctor cites several factors found more often in young adults who had a stroke in the American study. This reading must remain cautious: it is a
association, not proof that these factors alone explain the increase. The risk of stroke is multifactorial.
- High blood pressure, diabetes and certain rhythm disorders, such as atrial fibrillation, are among the factors to be monitored medically;
- Tobacco, a sedentary lifestyle, alcohol, being overweight or obese can increase cardiovascular risk, without a single factor summing up a person’s situation;
- Drug use is cited by Dr Kierzek, notably cocaine and cannabis, without putting all substances at the same level of proof.
In women, he also mentions the association of estrogen-progestin contraception, smoking and a history of migraine. This point deserves a personalized opinion from a doctor, a midwife or a gynecologist: do not interrupt or change contraception alone. To learn more, True Medical also details strokes in young adults and the main risk factors for stroke.
QUICK: the simple memo to recognize the signs
To avoid hesitating when faced with brutal symptoms, Dr. Kierzek suggests remembering the word FAST. This memo cross-references the emergency messages used to identify the warning signs of a stroke.
- Face : the mouth becomes deformed, the smile becomes asymmetrical.
- Inertia: an arm or leg becomes weak, numb, or unresponsive.
- Speech disorder: the person searches for words, articulates with difficulty or is no longer able to speak.
- Extreme Emergency: call immediately
the 15th, or the 112th.
A common trap is to reassure yourself if everything disappears in a few minutes. Dr Kierzek points out that it may be a transient ischemic attack, often presented as a “mini-stroke”. The action to take does not change: call for help
even if the symptoms disappear. Brain imaging, preferably by MRI when possible, and treatment decisions are then made by hospital teams.
Urgency is not theoretical: the quicker the treatment, the more doctors can assess access to certain treatments, such as the dissolution or removal of a clot, when the stroke is ischemic and the conditions are met.
These treatments do not apply to all strokes : they depend on the type of stroke, the time frame, the imaging and the contraindications.
For prevention, Dr. Kierzek cites simple actions: having your blood pressure checked, stopping smoking and stopping drugs. For addictive consumption, stopping may require professional support, without judgment.