34-Year-Old Man Suffers Stroke and Paralysis After Head and Neck Pain During Weight Training

A 34-year-old engineer continued weight training after developing sudden pain in the left side of his head and neck. The next day, he could not move the right side of his body or speak.

Doctors at Taichung Municipal Hospital found that a dissection in his left internal carotid artery had blocked blood flow and caused a clot to travel into the middle cerebral artery. His symptoms initially eased about 30 minutes after arrival, so doctors treated him in intensive care with dual antithrombotic medication and intravenous fluids.

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Do not assume that young people cannot have a stroke.

The condition worsened the following day. He developed right-sided paralysis and again lost the ability to speak. Doctors then performed catheter-based clot removal and placed a stent in the damaged carotid artery. The procedure restored blood flow, and he was able to move normally and speak fluently the next day. He left hospital after a week and had no reported lasting disability.

Neurologists said the procedure proved difficult because the catheter repeatedly entered a false channel created by the dissection. Using angiography, the team confirmed the vessel's path, reached the distant blockage and removed the clot before stabilizing the artery with a stent. Doctors said stroke can also affect younger people and advised immediate medical assessment for one-sided weakness, facial drooping, unclear speech, or unusual symptoms after exercise.

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If unusual symptoms appear after exercise, seek medical evaluation as soon as possible.