Now another deadly disease is emerging among young people, experts warn – amid an explosion of early-stage cancers
Health chiefs today sounded the alarm over a surprising rise in debilitating strokes among younger Britons.
Data shows that more than 12,500 over-50s suffered from the potentially fatal condition in 2023/2024.
By comparison, in 2004/2005 this number was just over 8,000 – an increase of 55 percent in twenty years.
The trend far exceeds the 28 percent increase across all ages over the same period.
Experts said the ‘alarming’ trends showed the condition was not just a risk to older people, with the rise fueled by obesity, stress, poor diet and sedentary lifestyles.
It also comes amid a worrying trend of increasing rates of some types of cancer, particularly breast, lung and bowel cancer, among younger people.
Health Minister Wes Streeting said: ‘These figures are shocking, and even more so because the causes of stroke are largely preventable, such as high blood pressure and poor diet.
‘Prevention will always be better than cure. Not only because it means that we help people live well for longer, but also because a healthy workforce supports our growth mission.’
Other – just as common – signs of an impending stroke often fall under the radar. These include sudden numbness on one side of the body, sudden dizziness and difficulty swallowing
Symptoms of a stroke are commonly remembered by this four-letter acronym, FAST. Stroke patients may often have their faces droop to one side, have difficulty lifting both arms and may have slurred speech, while time is of the essence as immediate treatment of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mild stroke can significantly reduce the risk of stroke. a much deadlier major stroke
Strokes affect more than 100,000 Britons every year – one every five minutes – and claim 38,000 lives.
This makes it the fourth biggest cause of death in Britain and a leading cause of disability.
Nearly 800,000 people are shot in the US every year, resulting in 137,000 deaths.
The problem occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, killing brain cells. The damage can lead to long-term disability and can affect how people think and feel.
The most common cause is fatty deposits or a blood clot that blocks the arteries that supply blood to the brain, also called ischemic stroke.
This happens as a result of cardiovascular disease, in which the blood vessels become narrowed or blocked by plaques over time.
These are made of cholesterol, calcium and other substances that build up in the artery walls in a process known as atherosclerosis.
The other – called hemorrhagic strokes – occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and its contents begin to leak into the organ.
Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke has repeatedly spoken about the lack of support young stroke survivors have. She suffered a brain hemorrhage at the age of 24
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of the NHS (pictured), said the figures show that strokes ‘are not just a risk to the elderly’ and that everyone should be aware of the symptoms
According to new data from NHS England, 12,533 Britons aged 50 to 59 suffered a stroke in 2023/2024. In 2004/2005 there were 8,063.
In total, there were 111,137 hospital admissions due to stroke last year.
This was 28 percent more than twenty years earlier, when 87,069 were registered.
Stroke rates also increased by 42 percent among 60- to 69-year-olds, and 25 percent among 70- to 79-year-olds.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of the NHS, said the figures show that strokes are ‘not just a risk to the elderly’ and that everyone should be aware of the symptoms.
He added: ‘There are likely a number of causes behind this alarming increase, but we know that lifestyle, and in particular obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise, are common factors that can increase the risk of stroke and have a significant impact could have. on cardiovascular health for working-age people in their 50s and 60s.”
‘Not only is stroke one of the biggest causes of death in England, it can also lead to life-changing consequences for so many other families.
‘Greater awareness of the need to act quickly and call 999, alongside other NHS interventions to support people to take control of their cardiovascular health, could help save and protect many more lives.’
Health Minister Wes Streeting said: ‘These figures are shocking, and even more so considering the causes of stroke are largely preventable, such as high blood pressure and poor diet.’
Without prompt treatment, a stroke can lead to death or long-term disabilities such as paralysis, memory loss and communication problems.
The NHS says rapid diagnosis and treatment are ‘critical’ as stroke victims can lose around 2 million brain cells per minute, with delays contributing to greater damage and hampering recovery.
Earlier this month, the health service launched its first major update to its ‘Act FAST’ stroke awareness campaign since 2009.
It encourages people to act immediately if someone experiences any of three common symptoms, including difficulty smiling, difficulty raising an arm or slurring words.
It follows research which found that most people wrongly thought they should only make such a call if there were multiple symptoms.
In recent years, NHS teams have developed new ways to find and treat more people with the major risk factors for cardiovascular health problems, including blood pressure checks in pharmacies for people over 40 and free blood pressure monitors for more than 220,000 people.
Survival rates have also improved, thanks to medical advances such as the rollout of clot-busting drugs and networks to send patients directly to specialist units.
