Ex American football pro supports stroke research

A former professional American football player who suffered a stroke aged 51 is asking for volunteers to take part in research that could make a "vital difference" to people's lives.

Rob Hart, from Edington in Wiltshire, was on the books of several NFL teams in America and has continued to keep fit since his career ended, running a marathon and completing a 100km (62m) charity run.

But things took a frightening turn this year when he had a stroke while heading to a GP appointment after suffering palpitations.

Hart said it was a "scary time" and has since joined the National Young Stroke Study to help raise awareness the condition can also affect people under the age of 55.

According to the NHS, the number of new stroke cases in adults under the age of 55 has doubled in the last 10 years in the UK and in other high-income countries.

However, the reasons for this increase remain unclear.

The Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath said the purpose of the study is to find out how traditional stroke risk factors that are more common at older ages - such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol level, smoking and obesity - might contribute to the occurrence of stroke at younger ages.

Hart, who was in squads for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints, said when he had the stroke, he felt dizzy, his eyesight started to fade and his hand went numb.

"It was a very scary time," he explained.

"I've lost about 15% of my sight in both eyes, otherwise I've been very lucky that there's no other significant damage to my health," he said.

Hart went on to say he was "more than happy" to take part in research following the incident.

"If it can in some way help raise awareness of potential new risk factors for strokes and how they can be prevented, then that can only be a good thing."

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