Kid Cudi Was 32 And Hailey Bieber Was 25 When They Had A Stroke—Why Is There A Rise Of Strokes In People Under 45?

In a recent interview with Esquire, Kid Cudi shared some intimate details about his stint in rehab in 2016 after he admitted himself "for depression and suicidal urges." He penned a letter to his fans describing his struggles.

"Its been difficult for me to find the words to what Im about to share with you because I feel ashamed. Ashamed to be a leader and hero to so many while admitting I've been living a lie," he wrote in a Facebook post. "Yesterday I checked myself into rehab for depression and suicidal urges. I am not at peace. I haven't been since you've known me. If I didn't come here, I wouldve done something to myself. I simply am a damaged human swimming in a pool of emotions everyday of my life."

Two weeks after being admitted into rehab, he suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. This has sparked a conversation about why there are so many young people experiencing strokes recently. Research says there is a statistical rise in people under the age of 45 suffering strokes.

Kid Cudi Was 32 and Hailey Bieber Was 25 When They Had a Stroke—Why Is There a Rise of Strokes in People Under 45?

Hailey Bieber, 25, was just having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber, one morning when she felt funny. There was a tingling sensation down her arm to her fingertips and suddenly she lost her ability to speak. Justin noticed that one side of her face was drooping. Luckily, she was taken to the hospital in time and was properly treated.

She later released a video on Instagram describing why she suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke. There were three factors that contributed to the incident: birth control, a recent bout of coronavirus, and long flights to and from Paris in a short amount of time (in which she didn't get up and walk around or wear compression socks).

Kid Cudi revealed that his stroke resulted in a loss of speech and slow physical movement.  “Everything was f*cked,” he said. He had to take a break from making music. He had to spend a few months in rehab and it took a long time for him to get the feeling back in his feet. He was only 32 years old at the time.

There are two types of strokes: ischemic stroke, which is when a vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed, and a hemorrhagic stroke, which is when a weakened vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain. Ischemic strokes make up 87% of strokes while hemorrhagic strokes make up 13% of strokes. Recent research in both the US and Europe says "ischemic stroke in younger adults is increasing."

People under the age of 45 seem to be suffering from more strokes than ever before. May Kim-Tenser, a neurologist with Keck Medicine of USC, told NPR a few reasons why this might be happening. In relation to Kid Cudi, she pointed out that he admitted to going on a cocaine binge shortly before checking into rehab. "When you do drugs or smoke, that drives up your blood pressure, and high blood pressure can be a contributing factor," she explained.

Kim-Tenser also pointed to the fact that the coronavirus lockdowns resulted in more young people than ever just sitting around at their computer for virtual meetings, never really leaving the house, and living a more sedentary lifestyle. This certainly contributes to strokes, just like it did with Hailey Bieber.

"Obviously, there are genetic causes, but there are also things we can change," she Kim-Tenser said. "Just moving your body is probably one of the best things you could do, and you could probably decrease the risk through diet and exercise."

If you or someone you love is experiencing stroke symptoms, Kim-Tenser recommends calling 911 right away. "Time is brain!" she said. Don't waste any time to see a doctor.