Here's another reason why you may want to embrace clean living: a new study has discovered a probable link between the rate of young adults who suffered from stroke early in their lives and addiction to cigarettes, liquor, or drugs.

NBCNews.com reports that the study, which monitored approximately 1,200 individuals who have had cardiovascular issues, found the trend among those with records of substance abuse. Although strokes commonly strike the elderly, more and more younger adults experience the condition due to drug use or heavy drinking.

According to neurologist S. Andrew Josephson of the University of California, San Francisco, there are certain drugs that could trigger a stroke almost immediately. These include cocaine, methamphetamines, and even marijuana.

"When a young person has a stroke, it is probably much more likely that the cause of their stroke is something other than traditional risk factors," he explains.

Although more research is needed to prove the direct connection of substance reliance to stroke, it's important to realize that no matter how young you are, you are not invincible. Abusing your body won't just affect you in old age--it may affect you now and change your life forever.

(Photo by PV KS via Flickr Creative Commons)