She had a stroke at 27. It’s a growing problem for Millennials, Gen Z.

Bethany Fonseca had a migraine one morning in October 2011.

She kept dropping things, like her hair dryer and apartment keys, because her arm “felt like a limp noodle.” Then the Jacksonville, Florida, resident suddenly collapsed in her bedroom while getting ready for work.

Drifting in and out of consciousness in the ambulance, she kept thinking of her twin girls, who were in kindergarten at the time.

“I just wanted to see my daughters one more time,” she said.

Stroke: A wareness is key to preventing long-term risks. What to know.

At 27 years old, Fonseca had a stroke. Although they’re typically associated with adults 65 and older, Fonseca is part of a growing trend where more strokes are occurring in younger people.

A 2024 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a significant increase, nearly 15%, in stroke prevalence among people ages 18 to 44.

“There has been a significant rise in the incidence of stroke among people under age 55 over the past two decades,” said Dr. Lauren Shapiro, medical director of the stroke program at Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville, where Fonseca recovered after her stroke. “There are multiple reasons, but the rising prevalence of high blood pressure is probably the most significant.”

Stroke symptoms, risk factors in young adults

Certain symptoms of stroke in young people like nausea, dizziness or tiredness are often dismissed or mistaken for migraines or stress, Shapiro said, which can delay critical treatment.

“That’s why raising awareness is so important. When it comes to strokes, every minute counts,” she said.

Some of the most commonly dismissed symptoms of a possible stroke include:

• Sudden, unexplained nausea or vomiting: “If you feel nauseated or vomit suddenly, without explanation, and especially if it’s paired with dizziness or imbalance, don’t ignore it,” Shapiro said.

• A “thunderclap” headache that comes out of nowhere: This type of headache is typically sudden, severe and hits you “like a lightning bolt,” Shapiro said. “Even if you don’t have other stroke symptoms, this kind of headache warrants immediate attention.”

• One-limb numbness, not weakness: This may feel like a “weird dead-arm feeling” or numbness. This symptom is often dismissed because patients say they can still move their limbs, Shapiro said, but sensory changes on one side can be an early sign of stroke.

• Vertigo or sudden loss of balance: Shapiro said this is a major cause of misdiagnosis in young women having strokes, sometimes dismissed as an inner ear issue, anxiety or dehydration.

• Sudden fatigue or mental fog: “Brain fog, confusion or extreme fatigue are red flags when they strike suddenly and don’t go away with rest,” Shapiro said.

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Young adults should also be aware of factors that put them at higher risk of having a stroke, such as high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, drug abuse and binge drinking, Shapiro said. Women who take birth control pills or are pregnant may also face an increased risk.

After her stroke, Fonseca lost control of the right side of her body and needed weeks of physical and occupational therapy. It took her a month to learn how to drive again and a full year to feel like herself.

Nearly 15 years later, Fonseca still has trouble with balance and fatigue, but she counts herself lucky. In Brooks Rehabilitation, she saw how strokes caused lifelong disability for many patients.

“It’s still a daily struggle but some people aren’t as lucky as I am,” she said. “If all I have to worry about is balance and tiredness, I count my blessings because it’s so much worse for other people.”

Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stroke at 27: One woman shares her story and a warning