Published: 27th May, 2015 in: Health Advice News Pulse
A charity has issued a warning that there has been a worrying rise in the number of working-age men and women having strokes.
In 2014, there were 6,221 hospital admissions in England for men aged 40-54 – which is a rise of 1,961 when compared to 14 years previous, according to a study carried out by the Stroke Association. However, the overall rate of strokes in the UK is going down.
Based on their findings, researchers say that strokes should not be seen as a disease that only affects older people. The majority of people who suffer a stroke are aged over 65, and though rates are decreasing in this age group, reports suggest that a growing number of younger people are at risk.
Experts who studied national hospital admission data from years 2000 to 2014 found that trends for people in their 40s and early 50s appeared to be getting worse.
In women aged between 40-54, there were an extra 1,075 strokes recorded in 2014, in comparison to those figures in the year 2000.
Experts say growing obesity levels, inactive lifestyles and unhealthy diets, which raise the risks of dangerous blood clots – are all partly to blame.
Strokes, which are caused by blood clots or bleeds to the brain, can lead to not only long-lasting disability but long-lasting personal and financial impacts on individuals and their families.
Patients who are in recovery following a stroke can find it difficult to return to work and the report suggests that they should have more support from employers.
The Stroke Association said that younger people should be aware of the warning signs.
The NHS has come up with the F.A.S.T method of identifying the signs of people who could be suffering from a stroke by the following 4-step guide.
F – Face – Has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
A – Arms – Can they raise both arms and keep them there?
S – Speech – Is their speech slurred?
T – Time – Time to call 999 if you see any single one of these signs.
For more information please see the link below.
http://www.nhs.uk/actfast/Pages/stroke.aspx
The Stroke Association: