Coronavirus can cause sudden strokes in young adults, doctors warn

From a fever to a dry cough, coronavirus is known to be associated with a range of unpleasant side effects.

Now, doctors have warned coronavirus can also cause sudden strokes - even if you’re young and healthy.

Doctors in New York have noticed a surge in strokes among adults with coronavirus in their 30s and 40s.

Dr Thomas Oxley, a surgeon at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, has treated five coronavirus patients for strokes in recent weeks - all of who were under 50, and had mild symptoms.


Speaking to CNN, he explained: “The virus seems to be causing increased clotting in the large arteries, leading to severe stroke.

"Our report shows a seven-fold increase in incidence of sudden stroke in young patients during the past two weeks.

“Most of these patients have no past medical history and were at home with either mild symptoms (or in two cases, no symptoms) of Covid. All tested positive.”

Worryingly, strokes can cause severe damage and even death if they aren’t treated straight away.

Dr Oxley explained: “The average person who has a large vessel stroke is severely impaired.

“It means it’s a bigger clot. It includes one of the largest arteries in the brain."

“The most effective treatment for large vessel stroke is clot retrieval, but this must be performed within 6 hours, and sometimes within 24 hours.”

Despite this, Dr Oxley revealed that two of the five patients treated delayed calling an ambulance, because of the pandemics.

He added: “Up until now, people have been advised to only call for an ambulance with shortness of breath or high fever.

“The easy memory device for stroke is ‘FAST’: F for face drooping, A for arm weakness, S for speech difficulty and T for time to call 911 [999 in the UK].”