Stroke victims are getting younger thanks to junk-food, smoking, boozing and lack of exercise
Stroke risk is up for Brits and the average age of both male and female stroke victims has gone down due to booze, bad diet and the lack of exercise
STROKE victims are getting younger and younger, figures show.
Two in five cases now occur in those aged 40-69.
The average age of male victims fell from 71 in 2007 to 68 in 2016. The women’s average age fell from 75 to 73, says Public Health England.
Experts blame junk-food diets, smoking, heavy boozing and a lack of exercise.
They all contribute to high-blood pressure, high cholesterol and irregular heartbeats — leading to blocked or burst vessels and starving the brain of blood.
About 57,000 people had a first-time stroke in 2016, with one in three likely to suffer another in their lifetime.
Prof Julia Verne, from PHE, said: “Many people think that strokes only affect older people, but that’s not the case.
“We need a better awareness in people aged 40 to 69 of the contributing factors.”
Around 32,000 die of stroke each year.
But deaths have fallen by 49 per cent in 15 years due to greater awareness of symptoms and better treatment.
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Around 1.9million nerve cells in the brain are lost every minute a stroke is left untreated, which can result in slurred speech, paralysis and death.
Tony Rudd, of NHS England, said: “Urgent treatment is essential. Friends and family can play a key part in making sure their loved ones receive care as quickly as possible.”
Symptoms include a “slumped” face, slurred speech and the inability to raise arms.