Why stress can cause a stroke in mid life (and how to prevent it)

It’s never too late to start stroke-proofing our lives – not least by cutting down on stress . We ask the experts how to do it The colloquialism “you’ll give yourself a stroke” cuts a bit close to the bone these days – particularly if you’re middle-aged. Annual figures show a steep rise in strokes among those in their 50s, with experts blaming rising obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and poor lifestyle.

According to Dr Joseph Kwan, a specialist in hyperacute stroke and stroke rehabilitation in Britain, mid-lifers need to start eating better, exercising more – and stop being so stressed. “We’ve known for the past 10 years that in the age group 45 to 55 the numbers are increasing faster than in older age brackets. They’re coming into my department with very big strokes,” says Kwan, who is also a senior consultant at the Imperial Stroke Centre at Charing Cross Hospital, one of the busiest stroke departments in the United Kingdom.



.