Heart disease and stroke are two of the biggest health threats in Michigan, and are now becoming more common in younger adults.
State data shows Heart disease as the #1 cause of death in 2023, and stroke comes in 4th place.
Experts say together the two are linked in nearly 1/3 of every death across the state.
Strokes are often considered a later-in-life issue, but researchers are now estimating 10-15% of all strokes happen in younger adults.
Doctors say they’re becoming more common for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
High blood pressure, smoking, stress, poor diet and not getting enough exercise are all major risk factors for any age, according to experts.
Doctors worry many don’t recognize signs until it’s too late.
Dr. Hebah Hefzy, Neurologist at Henry Ford Health, joined Local 4 Live to tell us what signs you should never ignore.
You can watch the full interview in the video at the beginning of this article.