The number of cases of stroke is predicted to rise by 44 per cent between now and 2035, according to an analysis by researchers from King’s College London.
The report, The Burden of Stroke in Europen, states that stroke is preventable and lists diabetes as one of the main modifiable risk factors. The other main modifiable risk factors noted are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) and obesity.
Data from the analysis estimates that there were 43,326 strokes in the UK in 2015 and that this is set to rise to 62,366 in 2035. The number of stroke survivors in the UK is expected to rise to 193,861 by 2035.
The researchers point to high blood pressure, also known as hypertensio, as the most important risk factor and that it is estimated to affect 20 per cent of the population.
They state that, “Well below half of all patients on medication actually have their blood pressure controlled.” Whilst, the report calls for people to be put on more blood pressure medication, lifestyle change is a better way to address high blood pressure.
Whereas blood pressure medication treats only one symptom, a healthy lifestyle can treat and prevent a host of health problems from stroke to type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, whereas blood pressure medications bring a range of side effects, healthy eating and exercise bring only benefits and no negative effects.
Diabetes.co.uk believes strongly in the power of the individual to overcome health problems. Since it was launched in 2015, the Low Carb Program has allowed people to get type 2 diabetes under better control.
The free online education in the program has also allowed a significant number of people to reclaim great health to such an extent that they have been able to come diabetes and blood pressure medications.

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