OVER 40 per cent Brits may not know that a common ‘silent killer’ condition is the leading cause of strokes, a charity has warned.
There are 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK – but awareness around risk factors for stroke is worryingly low even among people who’ve had or watched a loved one suffer the health emergency.
GettyHigh blood pressure is the leading cause of strokes, accounting for about half of yearly incidents[/caption]A survey conducted by stroke support charity Stroke Association showed that 36 per cent of people with experience of strokes – either through themselves or a loved one – didn’t know that high blood pressure is the most likely cause.
Awareness was even lower among people who had no experience with strokes, the charity found.
Forty-three per cent of this group couldn’t name high blood pressure as a major cause of strokes.
A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, often due to a clot travelling to the brain or bleeding in and around the brain.
High blood pressure – when the pressure of blood in your arteries remains consistently high – can up your risk of a stroke as it can lead to the formation of blood clots or damage tiny blood vessels in the brain.
It’s estimated that someone suffers the health emergency every five minutes, with high blood pressure causing about half of them.
To mark Stroke Prevention Day (January 30), the Stroke Association urged people to have their blood pressure checked regularly.
If you’re over the age of 40, you can have it looked at as part of a free NHS Health Check, which is offered to adults in England every five years up to the age of 74.
But recent data from the National Audit Office found that only 44 per cent of eligible adults attended these health checks in the last five years.
You can also get your blood pressure tested in most pharmacies, your GP and even at your workplace.
Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the Stroke Association, said: “Around 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke every year.
“Worryingly, this has been increasing over the last 20 years, particularly amongst people of working age.
“The lives of the 90,000 people who survive stroke every year in the UK change in an instant as the condition impacts on their ability to live physically and mentally well.
“It is vital that everyone knows what can cause a stroke, so they can proactively look after their health to reduce the risk.
“We’re encouraging adults of any age to get their blood pressure checked on a regular basis.
“This will equip them with knowledge on whether they are at risk of having a stroke so that they can take steps to reduce their chances, if required.”
For most people, high blood pressure won’t cause any noticeable symptoms so many people will have the condition without realising.
But in rare cases, the condition can cause three telltale symptoms.
They include:
Headaches Blurred vision Chest painThe best way to spot the condition is through a blood pressure check.
Anyone with high blood pressure readings should consult their GP and look to cut their stroke risk by reducing the amount of salt they eat, regularly exercising, drinking less booze and trying to quit smoking.
‘Ticking time bomb’
Whilst people of any age can have a stroke, it is most likely to impact those over the age of 65.
Stroke survivors are often left with physical and mental disabilities including paralysis, problems with vision, difficulties swallowing and struggles communicating.
There are a number of other factors that can up someone’s risk of experiencing the health emergency.
These include having conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol or atrial fibrillation, as well as smoking or eating unhealthily.
But the Stroke Association found that a surprisingly low number of people with a connection to stroke knew about the condition’s additional risk factors – 85 per cent didn’t identify a poor diet as a major risk factor and 57 per cent didn’t select smoking as a factor most likely to contribute to stroke.
How to lower blood pressure
Persistent high blood pressure (hypertension) puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs and it can raise your risk of serious conditions like heart disease, heart attacks and stroke. Here's how to reduce it.
Reduce salt
Adults are recommended to limit their salt to 6g per day (around one level teaspoon) to avoid health consequences including high blood pressure.
The top tip is to swap out table salt, according to the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study, replacing it with a reduced sodium and added potassium alternative.
Cut down on alcohol
Excessive boozing can narrow the blood vessels, which raises the risk of hypertension.
Official drinking guidelines advise that people should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week to keep health risks from alcohol low.
Get moving
Exercise is good for the heart and the blood vessels.
Although the guidelines recommend 150 minutes of activity per week, if you’re currently very inactive, just a walk to the shop every day is better than nothing, and you can work up from there.
Studies suggest that isometric exercises – when you hold the body in one position without moving, such as a wall squat or plank – are best for lowering blood pressure.
Stop smoking
Smoking cigarettes is a killer. It makes the arteries sticky and narrow, which can cause blockages.
While smoking is not a direct cause of high blood pressure, it can cause an instant rise to pressure, heart rate and reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to the body’s cells.
Skip coffee
Sadly, caffeine can cause a short, but dramatic increase in your blood pressure – even if you don’t have high blood pressure.
Therefore cutting back on coffee is recommended as a lifestyle tip for those with hypertension.
Lose weight
The above tips can help you to lose weight, which is beneficial because being overweight in itself is a risk factor for hypertension.
Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can raise your blood pressure.
The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.
The charity is also lobbying the Government to prioritise stroke prevention as part of the 10 Year Health Plan for England.
Prompt treatment and effective recovery can help stroke survivors to live physically and mentally well, the charity said.
It shared the story of Ian Burdin, 47, from Waltham Forest in London who had a stroke last July, caused by undiagnosed high blood pressure.
Ian spent over a month in hospital recovering, gradually reducing his use of a wheelchair or walking stick, but he still struggles to walk.
Ian said: “I couldn’t believe what was happening to me. In an instant, my life turned upside down, and I felt like everything had to go on hold. The stroke has robbed a lot from me, but one thing it won’t take is my determination.
“I’ve had to rebuild my life since the stroke and adapt to a new way of living.
“It’s sad to think that I was living with high blood pressure without realising it. If only I had known, then maybe I wouldn’t be in this situation.
“Doctors described my high blood pressure as a ‘ticking time bomb’. That’s why I really want more people to get their blood pressure checked out regularly – it could save your life.”
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