A worryingly large proportion of people in the UK are unaware that high blood pressure is a major cause of stroke, a charity has warned. The Stroke Association is urging people to keep track of their blood pressure and take action to cut their risk of a stroke, which affects 100,000 people every year.
Arteries in the body naturally become narrower and harder as people age, but keeping blood pressure down, eating a healthy diet, taking exercise and keeping track of cholesterol can all cut the risk. Around half of strokes are caused by high blood pressure, but a poll for the Stroke Association found about four in 10 people do not know high blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke.
High blood pressure is known as a silent killer because it usually has no symptoms.
The poll also found 85% of people with experience of stroke (such as in their family) are unaware poor diet is a major risk factor, while 57% do not know smoking pushes up the risk. Juliet Bouverie, chief executive 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.”
Free blood pressure checks are available from GPs, many pharmacies, and are also part of NHS health checks for those over the age of 40 in England and Wales. Ian Burdin, 47, from Waltham Forest in London, had a stroke last July caused by undiagnosed high blood pressure.
He 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. It’s sad to think that I was living with high blood pressure without realising it.”
David Hargroves, national clinical director for stroke medicine at NHS England, said: “High blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms but, if untreated, it significantly increases your risk of stroke. More than four million people are estimated to be living with undetected or untreated hypertension in England, and the only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure tested.”