Stroke Rates in Young Malaysians on the Rise: Alarming Sounders and the Role of Advanced Diagnosis
August 8, 2025
Stroke Rates in Young Malaysians Are Increasing: Alarming Alarms and the Role of Advanced Diagnosis
Hello, I am Dr Lim Wei Jian, a Neurologist with over 15 years of experience in treating brain, spinal cord and nerve disorders. Over the years, while examining thousands of patients, I have noticed an alarming situation: the rate of strokes in young people in Malaysia is increasing significantly, and this not only affects the individual patient but also has serious consequences for their family and society.
Stroke is no longer an “old man’s disease” – The numbers speak for themselves
According to statistics from the Stroke Association of Malaysia (NASAM), in the past 10 years, the rate of people under 45 years old suffering from stroke has increased from 8% to nearly 15% of all recorded stroke cases. The 2022 report of the Malaysian Ministry of Health shows that there are more than 50,000 new stroke cases each year, of which nearly 7,500 are in the group under 45 years old - those in their prime working age.
A study published in the journal Stroke (2021) also showed that Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, is witnessing the fastest increase in stroke in young people in the world, with an average increase of 4.5% per year.
The unpredictable consequences of stroke in young people
As a treating physician, I not only witness dry numbers, but also see the heartbreaking stories behind each case. I once received a 35-year-old male patient, an IT engineer, the main breadwinner of his small family. He suffered a stroke in the middle of a meeting, paralyzed on one side, unable to speak fluently, and lost the ability to take care of himself. His wife had to quit her job to take care of her husband, and the family's income was completely lost. The little girl, who was only 5 years old, had not yet grown up and was facing a financial and mental burden. This is just one of thousands of tragic situations I have encountered.
Unlike retired older adults, stroke in young people has a double consequence:
Loss of labor for a long time or permanently.
The burden of long-term care for the family and community.
Increased medical and physical therapy costs, leading to economic difficulties for the whole family.
What causes stroke in young people to become more common?
From a professional perspective, I see the main risk factors leading to early stroke include:
High blood pressure: Many young people ignore regular blood pressure checks, not knowing they have high blood pressure.
Type 2 diabetes: Obesity, lack of exercise, a diet rich in sugar, fast food causes the rate of diabetes in young people to increase sharply.
Dyslipidemia (high cholesterol): Consequences of unhealthy eating and lack of exercise.
Smoking, alcohol abuse: Causes damage to blood vessel walls, increasing the risk of blood clots.
Prolonged stress: A little-noticed factor but can contribute to loss of blood pressure control and cardiovascular dysfunction.
According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 35% of strokes in young people are related to unhealthy lifestyles, and can be prevented if screened early.
Why do we need to go to professional medical facilities?
A sad reality I encounter every day is that many young patients suffer from numbness, dizziness, severe headaches but are subjective or take medicine on their own, do not go to a specialist or only have a cursory examination. They often come when the symptoms are severe, or after a stroke has occurred. This comes from:
Lack of understanding of early symptoms of stroke.
Lack of confidence or not taking regular check-ups seriously.
The mentality of "I'm young, I'm probably fine".
I always advise patients: Don't miss the "golden time" opportunity to save the brain! In a stroke, intervention in the first 3-6 hours can save millions of brain cells, minimizing disability. This can only be done when patients go immediately to facilities with modern equipment such as CT, MRI, blood clotting tests, along with a team of neurologists, cardiologists, and emergency resuscitation specialists.
The role of a specialist with proper knowledge and qualifications
I graduated from the University of Malaya, received formal training in neurology, and continued to study and practice intensively at University College London (UCL). Thanks to my international standard knowledge base, I have a deep understanding of the pathogenesis, recognize early signs and develop a personalized treatment regimen based on each patient's risk factors, history and clinical characteristics.
With a modern diagnostic system, I can:
Accurately assess the cause of stroke: cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage or rare causes such as congenital vascular disease.
Determine the risk of recurrence to have a prevention plan.
Coordinate treatment with related specialties such as cardiology and endocrinology.
Understand the relationship between cardiovascular and neurological diseases
Stroke is not just a disease of the brain. Many young strokes originate from arrhythmias (such as atrial fibrillation), heart valve disease, or congenital heart defects. A blood clot from the heart can travel to the brain, causing a blockage of blood vessels in the brain. Therefore, when examining the nervous system, the doctor will always coordinate cardiovascular screening to not miss this dangerous cause. Early diagnosis and intervention help reduce the risk of death or disability by 60–80%.