Following the recent stroke of BBC presenter Eamonn Holmes, Dr Mark Porter, a well-known NHS doctor and broadcaster, has issued an important warning to adults over 35. Holmes, aged 66, experienced a stroke at home last week and is currently recovering in hospital. Dr Porter highlighted that strokes, traditionally thought to affect mainly older adults, are increasingly occurring in younger and middle-aged people.
Speaking on The One Show and on Radio 4’s Inside Health, Dr Porter emphasized the growing prevalence of stroke in those under 60—a troubling trend confirmed by research from the Oxford Vascular Study. The study found a 67% increase in stroke cases among under-55s over 20 years, while stroke incidence in over-55s declined by 15%. Current data from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme reveals that one in six strokes across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland now affect people under 60.
A stroke occurs when the brain’s blood supply is interrupted, typically due to an arterial blockage (ischaemic stroke) or, less commonly, a ruptured blood vessel (haemorrhagic stroke). Dr Porter pointed out that stroke can be fatal or leave survivors with lifelong disabilities, with about one in seven UK stroke patients dying in hospital.
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He warned that factors contributing to strokes in younger populations include the rising rates of obesity—affecting two-thirds of UK adults—and related conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. These risk factors often go unnoticed in younger adults who do not regularly monitor their health, unlike older individuals who may have more frequent screenings.
Dr Porter urged everyone over 35 to regularly check their cholesterol and blood pressure levels. He recommends purchasing a home monitoring device, which costs around £20, as an affordable and effective way to track these readings. If numbers are within a healthy range (for most people below 135/85 mmHg), monitoring can be eased off for six to twelve months. However, borderline readings should be rechecked every few months, and elevated levels require consultation with a GP.
Further, Dr Porter highlighted the importance of tracking heart rate due to a common condition called atrial fibrillation (AF)—an irregular heartbeat that affects electrical synchronization between the heart’s chambers. AF significantly increases stroke risk by allowing blood clots to form and travel to the brain. Signs of AF include a fast, irregular heartbeat (usually over 100 beats per minute) and unexplained shortness of breath during exertion. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical advice immediately.
Currently, about 1.5 million people in England live with AF, but roughly one-third remain undiagnosed, keeping them vulnerable to early strokes. AF accounts for 20% of all strokes in the UK, which tend to be more severe and disabling than other types. When diagnosed, AF can be controlled with treatments including anticoagulant medications like apixaban, reducing stroke risk significantly.
Dr Porter stressed that diagnosis typically requires an ECG (heart trace), but advances in technology mean many patients detect irregularities through smart devices such as home blood pressure monitors or heart rate trackers. While not all irregular readings indicate AF, any unusual result should not be ignored.
In summary, with strokes becoming more common in people in their 30s and beyond, awareness, self-monitoring, and timely medical intervention can save lives and reduce the risk of long-term disability.