Patrick Mascoli, a 27-year-old engineer and avid runner, experienced a sudden, severe stroke in July 2024 while at the gym. Despite maintaining a rigorous fitness routine that included running 40 miles a week, Mascoli described the event as "a bomb went off my head," with intense pain and loss of motor control on his right side.
Mascoli initially dismissed the possibility of a stroke due to his age and fitness level, believing it was an event more common in older adults or those with pre-existing conditions. However, symptoms such as blurred vision, intense pain, and involuntary leg movements led his sister to call 911. First responders initially suspected dehydration or vertigo due to his healthy appearance.
Subsequent tests, including a CT scan and MRI at Boston Medical Center, confirmed Mascoli had suffered a stroke. During his recovery, extensive testing revealed a patent foramen ovale (PFO), an opening between the heart's upper chambers that typically closes shortly after birth. Doctors believe this PFO allowed a blood clot to travel to Mascoli's brain, causing the stroke.
"In rare cases, a blood clot passes through this opening, travels to the brain and causes a stroke," explained Dr. Dheeraj Khurana, chief of cardiology at Episcopal Health Services, who did not treat Mascoli. While most individuals with a PFO experience no health issues, it is considered a potential cause for strokes in younger adults without common risk factors.
Mascoli underwent a catheter procedure to close the opening in his heart using a device that resembles a mesh umbrella. While his mobility has improved with therapy, he still experiences lingering difficulties with fine motor skills.
He has since returned to running, completing the Chicago Marathon in October 2026 as part of Team Abbott, the company that manufactured his heart implant. Mascoli now advocates for others who have experienced health emergencies to be patient with their recovery and not let the event define them.
Factors that can increase stroke risk in younger adults include high blood pressure, smoking, unhealthy cholesterol levels, clotting disorders, certain heart conditions, and tears in the arteries supplying the brain. Symptoms can include dizziness, altered mental status, vomiting, headaches, visual disturbances, speech problems, weakness, lethargy, or seizures. The American Stroke Association advises anyone experiencing sudden loss of balance, vision changes, face drooping, arm weakness, or difficulty speaking to call 911 immediately, regardless of age or fitness level.