Charity warns people with common conditions are at risk of stroke

Adults are being urged to manage their blood pressure to lower their risk of stroke, as new statistics from the Stroke Association reveal a concerning lack of awareness about its dangers. People with other common health issues like diabetes are also at risk.

Recent research from the leading stroke support charity, conducted in December of last year, found that 36% of people with personal or family experience of stroke were unaware that high blood pressure is the leading cause. Additionally, many respondents did not select other major risk factors, with 57% failing to identify smoking as a key contributor, and others overlooked the impact of poor diet.

In response, the Stroke Association is encouraging regular blood pressure checks. Those with high readings should consult their GP and take steps to lower their risk by reducing salt intake, exercising regularly, moderating alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking.

The charity is also calling on the Government to prioritise stroke prevention in England’s 10-Year Health Plan. They stress that prompt treatments, such as thrombectomy or thrombolysis, along with effective rehabilitation, can significantly improve recovery and quality of life for stroke survivors.

With 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK and someone experiencing a stroke every five minutes, half of which are linked to high blood pressure, the Stroke Association is working to raise awareness of both risk factors and warning signs.

What are the symptoms and signs of a stroke?

The main symptoms of a stroke can happen suddenly. They may include:

• face weakness – one side of your face may droop (fall) and it might be hard to smile
• arm weakness – you may not be able to fully lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm
• speech problems – you may slur your words or sound confused

The easiest way to remember these symptoms is the word FAST. This stands for ‘face, arms, speech and time to call 999’.

Other symptoms of a stroke

There are other signs that you or someone else is having a stroke. These include:

• weakness or numbness down one side of your body
• blurred vision or loss of sight in 1 or both eyes
• finding it difficult to speak or think of words
• confusion and memory loss
• feeling dizzy or falling over
• a severe headache
• feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)

The charity notes: “Stroke survivors are frequently left with physical and mental disabilities including paralysis, problems with vision, difficulties swallowing and a struggle to communicate.”

What causes a stroke?

The says a stroke can happen to anyone at any age, but your risk may increase if:

• you’re over 50 years old
• you’re from a Black or South Asian background
• you have sickle cell disease (SCD)
• you have an unhealthy lifestyle
• you have migraines
• you take the combined contraceptive pill
• you’re pregnant and have pre-eclampsia
• you’ve just had a baby

Certain conditions also increase the risk of stroke. These include:

• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• diabetes
• irregular and fast heartbeats (atrial fibrillation)
• high cholesterol
• a transient ischaemic attack (TIA or mini stroke)

If you have hypertension, the NHS warn: “Do not forget to take medicines for any underlying conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes – talk to a GP if you have any problems with your medicine.”

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.”