Stroke is now the second leading cause of death worldwide, causing disability, dementia and other health problems for millions of people each year. Although stroke is common, the distribution of deaths is uneven, with 86% occurring due to stroke. low and middle income countriesand the number affecting people under 55 is increasing.
Researchers attribute the high number of stroke deaths to unequal distribution of medical resources, lack of prevention programs, pollution, lifestyle factors and other issues. They suggest that the world is ignoring the public health burden of stroke at its own peril, with stroke treatment costs and lost income rising from $891 billion annually in 2017 to 2050. It is predicted that this will increase to up to $2.31 trillion by the end of the year.
Despite ambitious international goals to reduce non-communicable diseases by 2050, the world is falling short of its own goals, the researchers write.
“Stroke takes a huge toll on the world’s population, killing or disabling millions of people each year and costing billions of dollars,” said a joint committee of New Zealand’s Auckland University of Technology. said Committee Chair Valerie L. Fagin.said in news release. “These estimates indicate that the burden will continue to increase in the coming years unless urgent and effective action is taken.”
That action should include awareness campaigns, low-cost surveillance, better treatment and medication options, and community cooperation, the researchers wrote.
Despite this crisis, researchers note that stroke is “highly preventable and treatable.” Lifestyle factors such as a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and not smoking can reduce your risk of stroke, as can regularly monitoring conditions such as high blood pressure.
