A study published in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, showed that young adults who had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were more likely to suffer from a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or major stroke by the time they get to middle age. You can read the full article here: Young adults with PTSD may have a higher risk of stroke in middle age
There is already research that links PTSD with risk of heart disease and stroke in older adults, but this study is the first one to look at PTSD and the risk of TIA and stroke in young and middle-aged adults.
The participants of this study were all veterans, but it has been made clear that PTSD can affect anyone that goes trough or witnesses a traumatic experience, and so these findings are fundamental for the whole population.
Medical data from more than one million veterans aged 18 to 60 was analysed by researchers. All participants had served in Iraq or Afghanistan, and none of them had suffered TIA or a stroke.
After 13 years of follow up, researchers reported that 766 veterans had a TIA and 1,877 had an ischemic stroke. Additional findings included:
- 29% of veterans were diagnosed with PTSD, and they were twice as likely to have a TIA
- Those suffering from PTSD were 62% more likely to suffer a stroke
- A higher link between PTSD and the risk of stroke was found in men, when comparing to women
If you are someone who went trough a traumatic event, please contact us at Salus Wellness Clinics for free advice and to explore possible solutions we can offer.