Global Stroke Mortality Rate Projected to Rise Due to Aging Population
London: According to a recent study, the global mortality rate due to strokes could increase by up to 50% by 2050.
Factors Contributing to Stroke Risk and Prevention Strategies
The World Stroke Organization and the Lancet Neurology Commission Stroke Collaboration Group suggest that the number of strokes resulting in fatalities could rise from 66 million (as of 2020) to 97 million by 2050 due to population aging.
According to the NHS website, certain factors that are immutable make it impossible to prevent strokes entirely. These factors include age (as most stroke incidents occur in the 60s and 70s), although anyone can be affected (due to genetics, family history, and ethnicity). Additionally, other health factors may also be linked to strokes.
However, while there are certain factors we cannot change, we can help reduce their occurrence by managing conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Dr. Angela Ray, a general practitioner in London, explains that a stroke occurs when the brain is deprived or reduced of blood supply. She describes two types of strokes: ischemic stroke, where blood flow to the brain is blocked, and hemorrhagic stroke, where bleeding occurs in the brain. Ischemic strokes are more common and are associated with specific risk factors.