Charity warns untreated strokes likely to increase due to rise in Omicron cases

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Stroke Association has raised concerns over the impact of increasing Omicron cases on untreated strokes.The charity believes we are again "likely to see" a drop in stroke admissions in Lanarkshire, similar to that at the start of the pandemic.During the first wave of the pandemic there was a significant decrease in admissions to stroke wards, when the COVID-19 infection rate rose rapidly.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The charity's 'Recoveries at Risk' report found this was due to patient worries over catching COVID-19 or being a burden on the NHS.Nearly a third (32 per cent) of people who survived a stroke between March and June 2021 said they delayed seeking medical attention due to COVID-19.This year, with the added impact of reported ambulance delays, this is likely to intensify feelings of being a burden on the NHS, causing people to delay seeking medical treatment.To add to this potential crisis, new data shows that this year, more people are living with unmanaged hypertension (high blood pressure) and other major stroke risk factors due to fewer regular in-person appointments where cardiovascular conditions (like high blood pressure) are spotted.This means that the stroke rate could rise as more people live with unmanaged hypertension than in previous years.In Scotland there are