No Exercise and Unhealthy Lifestyle Increase Risk of Stroke Among Middle-Aged in the UK

Sedentary lifestyle has increased the number of middle aged-people suffering from strokes, reported a British charity survey.

The Stroke Association said there had been an alarming increase in the number of working-age people having strokes, at a huge cost to Britain’s health services and their families.

Stroke – Early Warning Signs - Risk Factor - Rehab - Treatment
Stroke can cause permanent disability and it is important to recognize its early warning signs to stop its progress. Early warning signs of stroke include sudden weakness of facial muscles.

The number of hospital admissions for strokes among 40 to 54-year-old men in England rose by 46 percent from 4,260 in 2000 to 6,221 and among women it increased by 30 percent from 3,529 to 4,604 in 2014.

Overall, the number of strokes occurring in people of working age (20-64) has risen by a quarter within the past 15 years, the NHS figures show. This means more people are having to live with the financial burden of the condition, which can leave people with disabilities and unable to work, the charity warned.

It highlighted that strokes already cost Britain’s economy around £9 billion a year, with loss of income, due to a relative’s death or disability from a stroke, accounting for more than £1.3 billion of the total.

How to Deal with a Stroke - Signs - Symptoms - Risk Factors - Prevention
Stroke is a brain attack, which occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. It affects all age groups; according to the WHO, 15 million people are affected by stroke annually.

Jon Barrick, Chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: "These figures show that stroke can no longer be seen as a disease of older people. There is an alarming increase in the numbers of people having a stroke in working age. This comes at a huge cost, not only to the individual, but also to their families and to health and social care services."

He said that more needs to be done to raise awareness of risk factors in order to prevent strokes, which occur when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.

Stroke Survivors Need Emotional Support
About 152,000 individuals in England are affected by stroke annually. The repercussions of stroke include both physical disability and emotional stress.

Source-Medindia

Quitting Smoking at 60 Cuts Heart Attack, Stroke Risk Within First Five Years
The increase in risk depends on the number of cigarettes a person has smoked in his or her lifetime. After one quits smoking, this risk continues to decrease.