Response to BMJ article - Job loss late in career doubles chances of heart attack and stroke

Response from Joe Korner, Director of Communications at The Stroke Association:

"The findings in the 10 year follow up using the health and retirement survey which shows that those who have been made redundant over 50 are more than twice as likely to have a stroke, are very interesting.

"We know what the major risk factors for stroke are such as high blood pressure, smoking, not taking exercise and eating unhealthily. It appears from this research that being made redundant in your 50's may be another one.

"However, when people who have had a stroke do try to return to work, they are faced with major problems. A quarter of all strokes occur in people under 65 and these are often misdiagnosed by health professionals and the general public. Even when a stroke is diagnosed and treated, the provision of rehabilitation services is scarce and often unsuitable for helping people to return to the workplace.

"The Stroke Association launched a campaign yesterday entitled 'Getting back to work after stroke' which looks at how stroke survivors struggle to return back to the workplace following a stroke."

Ends

For further information please contact the Media team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1500 or email press@stroke.org.uk

Click here to view full paper:
http://press.psprings.co.uk/oem/june/om26823.pdf

Notes to editor

1. Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

2. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

3. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

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