A recent report by the Stroke Association shows that strokes among working aged people are on the rise.
Risk factors
- Age
A person’s arteries become harder and narrower with age, raising risk of stroke and TIA.
- Gender
Men are at higher risk than women, and at an earlier age too.
- Ethnic background
South Asian and black people in the UK are more likely to have a stroke and TIA than white people.
- Family history
Someone with a close relative who has experienced stroke or TIA is likely to have an increased risk.
- Certain medical conditions
A number of conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation and diabetes can increase the chances of stroke and TIA.
- Lifestyle factors
Having an unhealthy diet, drinking too much alcohol, taking recreational drugs, smoking and a lack of exercise can also increase likelihood of stroke and TIA.
Since 2000 there has been a 24% increase in people aged between 20 and 64 admitted to hospital after a stroke. Last year, there were 6,221 hospital admissions for men aged 40-54 in England alone, an increase of 1,961 when compared to 14 years previous.
The news is worrying indeed – strokes are usually thought to only affect people over the age of 65, but these figures suggest otherwise. In their report, the Stroke Association highlighted the impact this can have on the workforce. With working-age individuals clearly at risk, they suggest that greater support from employers is needed to help both individuals and the company.
But when it comes to support, the financial impact of such an illness cannot be discounted. Care for stroke victims will cost the individual and family, and the lasting effects of the disease can act as a barrier to normal working life, but this is where the utility of income protection insurance comes in.
If you experience an illness or injury which prevents you from doing your job, then this kind of insurance provides between 50 and 70% of your usual monthly income to make sure you can get by. In times of distress, cover like this would act as a safety net, helping to reduce the worry for both you and your family.
23% of stroke survivors the Association spoke to said their reason for wanting to return to work was that they were worried about money. The monthly payments of income protection insurance would allow you to return to work at your own pace and not before you’re ready, which may have an adverse effect on your health. A regular source of income would also mean that you wouldn’t be reliant on family for support, opening up the opportunity of private, personalised care to streamline your recovery.
The rise in strokes have, in part, been attributed to higher population levels, but most notably, a change in lifestyle habits. An increased appetite for junk food coupled with a sedentary lifestyle has shown to increase the risk of blood clots – a frequent precursor to a stroke. And whilst worrying, these factors are, at least, preventable.
Taking steps to improve one’s health through diet and exercise is one of the best way to lower one’s risk to such a disease. After all, prevention is key. However if you’d like to give yourself that added level of comfort, an Income Protection policy can do just that. By mitigating the financial impact of ill-health, you can feel reassured knowing that should misfortune strike, you have the necessary financial provisions in place.
Best Price Financial Services provides one of the most affordable way to get Income Protection Insurance. Their commission-free option makes it easy to search, compare and buy, quality policies for a fraction of the cost charged by leading providers.
For more information about Strokes, including how to detect one visit the Stroke Association’s website here.