by Dr. John Jose & Dr. AjitMullasari
We often think that only older people suffer from stroke. But as per reports, In India, nearly
one-fifth of patients with first-ever stroke admitted to hospitals has been estimated to be aged
40 years or less. Stroke in young poses a major health problem for any country. As per WHO,
stroke as an event caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the brain, usually
because a blood vessel bursts or is blocked by a clot. This cuts off the supply of oxygen and
nutrients, causing damage to the brain tissue. One of the reasons of stroke in young adults
could be an history of congenital heart defect. Let’s first understand the connection between
these two conditions.

How congenital heart defect carries the risk of stroke
All foetuses in the womb have a small opening called a foramen ovale in the wall between
the right and left atria. This hole allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs which are unable to
function until they are exposed to air. The pressure from the first breath of a new-born baby,
closes the foramen ovale and it seals completely within a few months in almost 75 percent of
the cases. But in the rest 25 percent, the condition is called a Patent Formane Ovale (PFO).
PFO lets a small amount of blood to pass from right side to the left side of the heart. For
majority of people, PFO does not cause any medical problems and requires no treatment. In
rare cases it may allow a blood clot to pass from right side to the left side of the heart and
travel to the brain where it can block a blood vessel leading to a stroke.