Each year hundreds of bikers look to compete in the yearly Little 500 bike race, a staple of Indiana University. Matt Bolotin, a sophomore, was preparing to compete for his first time when he suffered a stroke at the age of 19.

Like most students, Matt did not even know someone around his age and in good health could have a stroke. According to the CDC, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year. Most of those most happen to people over the age of 65, but according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center up to 10% of all strokes occur in those under the age of 45.  As you get older the risk of having a stroke increases but other factors like obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease can contribute to a stroke. While it is less common the younger a person is, a stroke can still happen to young adults and even children which is why it is critical to know the signs. According to Healthline, sickle cell diseases, blood clotting disorders, heart and blood vessel problems are added risk factors for a stroke in those under the age of 18.

Knowing the signs of a stroke can be the difference between life and death.  Matt’s roommate Clay Lindner, who works as a lifeguard in his free time, noticed Matt experiencing the symptoms of a stroke. Clay noticed Matt was slurring his words, struggling to use his left arm and facial droopage which prompted him to recognize that Matt was suffering a stroke. Despite Matt only being 19 years old, Clay recognized the signs of a stroke and rushed to get Matt to the hospital.

Beaumont Hospital uses the acronym FASTER to help remember and identify the signs of a stroke and what to do if you recognize the signs.

The F stands for facial drooping which would occur on the left side of the persons face.

The A stands for arm weakness which would be noticed if one arm was weaker or numb than the other and cause the person to struggle to lift their arm up.

The S stands for stability. A person who is suffering a stroke might struggle to stand on their own.

The T stands for talking which can be seen in changes to a person’s speech, as they might slur their words when speaking while suffering a stroke.

The E stands for eyes which alludes to visual changes and the loss of vision in one or both eyes. 

The R stands for react, which is a reminder to call 9-11 immediately if you recognize symptoms even if they go away. The longer a stroke goes untreated the more damage it will cause to the person.  

Luckily for Matt, his stroke was caught early and because of it, doctors were able to limit the damage it caused. The quick response has allowed to Matt to work his way back through rehab and physical therapy and return to school just a few months later and begin training for the Little 500 race in 2024. Understanding that a stroke can happen to anyone is important but recognizing the signs of a stroke and responding immediately is critical and can be the difference between life and death.