Stroke – the Hidden Menace

A new study by The Stroke Association, a UK charity has found that undiagnosed high blood pressure put nearly one in every four people at high risk of suffering a stroke. The association studied more than 19,000 people across the UK before arriving at these findings.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted or blocked on account of a blood clot. Each year, nearly 150,000 people in the UK suffer a stroke. One third of these people are likely to succumb to the stroke within the first 10 days. A third might recover within a month while the remaining one third will most likely be left disabled for life and needing rehabilitation.

Many of these strokes are preventable; people just need to bring their blood pressure under control. To do this, they must stop smoking, eat less salt and fat, exercise and watch their weight. In addition to stroke, high blood pressure also increases the risk of a heart attack.

In the study conducted across the UK, the Stroke Association examined blood pressure readings for 19,318 people, with some shocking results. 24% of those examined and found to have high blood pressure did not know they had any such condition. The figure rose to 30% when the study moved to the south west.

The blood pressure tests showed that 26% of the people in East Anglia and the Home Counties were unaware that they had high blood pressure. Highest awareness was found among people in the north east – only 18% of those suffering from high blood pressure did not know about their condition.

Following the study findings, experts are urging people to get their blood pressure checked periodically to avoid falling prey to the “silent killer”. The Stroke Association and Rotary International Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) are now jointly planning a series of blood pressure testing days across England.

Joe Korner, Director of the Stroke Association said, “There is no doubt that blood pressure testing really can save lives. Every five minutes someone in the UK has a stroke but over 40% of those strokes could be prevented by the control of high blood pressure. We also know that many thousands of people are completely unaware of their own blood pressure levels.”

“Many of those people have no idea that they have high blood pressure and that their risk of having a stroke is massively increased. High blood pressure can be reduced through medication and controlled by changes in diet and lifestyle,” he added.

Andrew Lansley, shadow health secretary and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Stroke said, “People lead busy lives but getting your blood pressure checked, either by your GP or at a Stroke Association/RIBI testing day near you is quick, simple and could change your life for the better. An estimated 150,000 people have a stroke each year, with a quarter happening to those under 65, so monitoring blood pressure is absolutely vital.”

Sue Massey, spokesperson for the Blood Pressure Association said, “One in three people in the UK have high blood pressure, the major cause of death and disability through stroke and heart attack. The good news is that high blood pressure can be treated and often prevented, but the only way to find out if you have it is by having a check.”

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