Shropshire charity boss speaks out on stroke warning for middle aged

New figures from Public Health England (PHE) show 38 per cent of strokes now occur in people between the ages of 40 and 69.

It has risen from 33 per cent in 2007.

A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, and is the third most common cause of premature death in the UK.

Health bosses say high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are among the main risk factors for the deadly condition – and are fuelled by excess weight, alcohol and smoking.

Experts have urged people to be aware of the signs of a stroke.

The Stroke Association provides a Shropshire Stroke Recovery Service for people affected by stroke in the county.

The charity provides information, practical advice and emotional support following a stroke, both at home and in the wider community.

Sarah Adderley, West Midlands and Shropshire's head of stroke support at the Stroke Association, said: “Stroke is the killer condition that has been ignored for too long in the UK. These latest figures suggest that stroke is increasingly occurring in people at a younger age. This urgently needs to change.

“As the UK’s leading stroke charity, we have said it time and again; stroke devastates lives in an instant, leaving people facing a lifetime of disability. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The faster you seek and receive emergency specialist treatment for stroke, the better your chances of making a good recovery. Knowing the signs of stroke and being able to Act FAST could save a life – your life.”

The Act FAST campaign, which has been relaunched by Public Health England, urges people to check if the face has fallen on one side; if they can smile; if the both arms can be raised; if speech is slurred; and to phone 999.

Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North, “had a stroke and hit the floor” of his flat in the town on January 11, then spent six days in hospital.

He said: "I received excellent treatment but I was lucky the ambulance arrived very quickly.

"The biggest concern with strokes is the amount of time it takes to get medical help. In rural parts of Shropshire that can be a worry."

People aged between 40 and 74 have been urged to get an NHS health check to identify if they are at risk of a stroke.

Professor Julia Verne, director of PHE, said: "Stroke is still one of the leading causes of death in England. While it's often associated with older people, the latest research shows that people are having strokes at a younger age.

"Everyone needs to be aware of the signs."

Data from PHE showed 58 per cent of strokes still happen in older age.

Some 57,000 people in England had their first stroke in 2016, the data showed.