In 2006, more than 400 men, aged between 40 and 50 were admitted to hospital in the East of England suffering from strokes.

Last year, the total was 520 – an increase of 17 per cent – an increase put down, in part, to increasingly unhealthy lifestyles, and partly to the way hospitals now deal with stroke victims The Stroke Association’s research suggests the number of women victims in the same age group has also increased – by 13 per cent.

More shockingly, perhaps, the overall number of stroke victims aged between 20 and 64 in the region has risen by 10 per cent in the past eight years.

Strokes are caused when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain.

The effect spreads like a fire, rapidly damaging brain cells and when it happens, like a fire, it is an emergency. The faster you react, the more of the brain you can save Each year, about 150,000 people have a stroke and of those, 67,000 die, according to NHS figures The direct cost to the NHS of caring for stroke victims is estimated at £2.8billion a year, but the cost to the wider economy is thought to be a further £1.8billion through loss of productivity and income because of the long-term disabling effects of strokes.

A quarter of stroke victims are under retirement age Jon Barrick, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: “These figures show stroke can no longer be seen as a disease of older people.

“There is an alarming increase in the numbers of people of working age having a stroke. This comes at a huge cost, not only to the individual, but also to their families and to health and social care services.

“The simple truth is we must do more to raise people’s awareness of risk factors, to help prevent them having a stroke.

“With many more stroke patients now receiving emergency medical treatment, we also need the right health and social care services available.

“People must have the support they need to make the best possible recovery and avoid having to cope for decades with the disabilities that stroke can bring.”

The charity is also warning increasing the retirement age will force more stroke victims to live with the heavy financial impact of their condition.

Stroke survivors, unable to return to work, very often struggle to cope with reduced income, increased household bills and a benefits system which increasingly fails to recognise the full impact of a stroke.

 

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