A 34-year-old serviceman who suddenly lost the ability to speak was admitted to the neurology department of the Dobrobut medical network. The man tried to pronounce words, but instead of coherent speech, he produced only indistinct sounds. At the same time, the mobility of his arms and legs, as well as muscle strength, were completely preserved. Colleagues initially attributed the speech impairment to severe stress, but a detailed examination revealed an ischemic stroke. Neurologist Natalia Ovsyannikova, head of the inpatient neurology department at Dobrobut, told Wave RBC.UA that among the factors affecting the patient's condition were arterial hypertension and the fact that in the preceding weeks on a combat mission, the soldier did not always have the opportunity to take prescribed medications on time and drink enough water. After a course of treatment, the man's condition gradually improved: a few months later, there were no noticeable consequences of the stroke left.

Stroke ceases to be an "elderly disease"

According to the World Stroke Organization (WSO) data for 2025, about 12 million cases of this disease are registered worldwide annually, which is approximately 23 strokes per minute. At the same time, about 53% of cases occur in people under 70 years of age, and approximately 15% are in the 15 to 49 age group. In Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Health data for 2022, more than 100,000 people suffer a stroke annually, and approximately a third of them are under 65 years old. Dobrobut's practice confirms this trend: over the past three months, the network has treated 28 patients with ischemic stroke, five of whom were under 60 years old — almost 18% of the total number.

Inconspicuous development: Why symptoms are ignored

The danger of vascular diseases is that they can develop almost imperceptibly for a long time. A person continues to work, go about their usual business, and feel well, not suspecting that their blood vessels and cardiovascular system already need attention. Ovsyannikova cites another case from practice: a female patient developed numbness in her arm, which gradually spread to her shoulder and partially affected her leg. The symptoms did not seem serious enough to the woman to seek help immediately, but due to high blood pressure, she still made an appointment. An examination revealed a brain hemorrhage. The patient was hospitalized and provided with the necessary care; the situation ended successfully.

Risk factors that can be influenced

Some risk factors do not depend on a person — age and heredity. However, it is quite realistic to influence a number of others. Smoking negatively affects blood vessels and contributes to increased blood clotting. Alcohol can provoke spikes in blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, worsen sleep quality and metabolism. The doctor emphasizes: there is no proven benefit of a glass of wine for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and alcohol should not be perceived as a means of protection against stroke. Chronic stress, constant air raid alerts, sleep disorders, physical exhaustion, and irregular nutrition all exacerbate existing risk factors: increase pressure, disrupt sleep, and encourage bad habits. A separate problem is delayed visits to doctors: when a person is constantly busy with work or volunteering, routine examinations take a backseat.

What to do: Recommendations from the neurologist

Natalia Ovsyannikova advises periodically measuring blood pressure, monitoring body weight and physical activity levels, and if there is a family history of cardiovascular disease, discussing an individual prevention plan with a specialist. A stroke does not always have obvious symptoms: the first sign can be a sudden speech disorder, numbness of the limbs, or vision problems. In conditions of constant stress and physical exhaustion, it is especially important not to ignore such manifestations and to consult a doctor in a timely manner.