7 million lives are lost annually.
A new study warns that global rates of stroke and stroke-related deaths are increasing due to climate change and deteriorating diets. In 2021, nearly 12 million people worldwide experienced a stroke, marking a 70% increase since 1990, according to research led by Valery Feigin from Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. Stroke is now the third leading cause of death globally, claiming over 7.3 million lives annually. Despite these alarming statistics, experts believe that stroke is largely preventable.
Dr. Catherine Johnson, co-author of the study and a research scientist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, emphasized that 84% of stroke cases are linked to 23 modifiable risk factors. This means there are significant opportunities to reduce stroke risk through lifestyle changes. Key risk factors include air pollution, high blood pressure, excess weight, smoking, and physical inactivity, all of which can be managed or mitigated.
The study, published in The Lancet Neurology, also highlights the long-term impact of strokes on survivors. From 1990 to 2021, the number of years of healthy life lost due to stroke increased by 32%. The study attributes this rise to increasing exposure to various stroke risk factors, including high body mass index (BMI), elevated blood sugar, low physical activity, and poor diets.
Climate change is playing a significant role in the rising stroke rates, with increasing temperatures worsening air pollution, a major stroke risk factor. The combination of high temperatures and pollution is especially devastating in poorer regions, where access to healthcare and stroke prevention services is limited. Hemorrhagic strokes, although less common than ischemic strokes, are responsible for half of all stroke-related deaths and disabilities, and air pollution is now considered as dangerous a risk factor as smoking.
Worsening diets are also driving the increase in stroke risk, as poor nutrition leads to higher rates of obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, even in low-income countries and among younger populations. Dr. Johnson stressed the urgent need for interventions to address these risk factors, as well as the importance of climate action to reduce air pollution and manage the growing burden of stroke-related health issues.
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