Public unaware of risk factors which contribute to over 50,000 unnecessary strokes a year

The results of a major new survey released by The Stroke Association today, highlight a worrying level of ignorance among the general public about the risk of stroke, the UK's third biggest killer. This is despite the fact that about 50,000 strokes could be prevented each year if appropriate steps to improve overall health were taken.

The survey of 1,964 adults showed that respondents greatly underestimated their risk of having a stroke in comparison to experiencing other events. Almost twice as many people felt that they were at a greater risk of being mugged than of having a stroke. However, official figures show that while a mugging occurs up to every 13 minutes, someone has a stroke every five minutes.

A call for action was made by Joe Korner, Director of Communications from The Stroke Association: "Stroke is the UK's biggest cause of disability and the third biggest killer. The lack of awareness of the risk factors, particularly high blood pressure, is very worrying. Up to 40 per cent of strokes could be prevented. The survey results show that people over estimate their risk of being mugged, which they can do nothing about, whilst under estimating their risk of stroke, which they can do something about. Much more must be done to educate the general public about how to reduce their risk of stroke, especially by having their blood pressure checked regularly. Better blood pressure control and reducing other risk factors could significantly reduce the number of strokes."

This lack of awareness of stroke risk is even more alarming given the proportion of those facing an increased stroke risk owing to their current lifestyle. The survey showed that 28 per cent of respondents had been told they have high blood pressure, increasing their risk of stroke by seven times and 29 per cent were smokers, doubling their risk. Twenty three per cent of respondents admitted to drinking six units or more of alcohol during a night out. The Office of National Statistics considers 'binge drinking', which increases the risk of stroke five-fold, to be eight or more units for men and six or more units for women, on at least one day in the week.

Dr Brian Crichton, a GP from Solihull and Honorary Teaching Fellow at Warwick University, commenting on the findings stated: "These results confirm what many GPs have long felt, that more needs to be done to raise awareness of risk factors for stroke and encourage people to take early action. People are unaware that making even small changes to their lifestyle such as controlling high blood pressure, cutting down on alcohol intake and stopping smoking, can have a dramatic impact on their risk of having a stroke."

Highlighting this, nearly 60 per cent of the population are apparently unaware that hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke. This finding was of particular concern as up to 40 per cent of strokes could be prevented by regular blood pressure checks, treatment for hypertension and taking steps to control overall health. Furthermore, only 18 per cent of the survey respondents felt themselves to be at risk of developing high blood pressure despite the fact that around 50 per cent of over 65s are hypertensive.

Notes to editor

About the survey
The survey of 1,964 adults aged 18+ from across Great Britain was developed by The Stroke Association, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited and conducted in collaboration with NOP World.

About stroke
· Of those who have a stroke, only one in three go on to make a full recovery. As a result, stroke has a huge impact, not only on the stroke patient, but also on his/her family and the NHS.
· It is estimated that the annual cost of stroke to the NHS is over £2.3 billion.
· Stroke patients occupy around 20 per cent of all acute hospital beds and one-quarter of long-term beds in the UK.

About Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited (MSD)
MSD is the UK subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc., of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, USA, a leading research-based pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of innovative pharmaceutical products to improve human health.

For more information, please contact the Media Team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1500 or email press@stroke.org.uk

References
1. The Stroke Association. Facts and figures. Visited on 8 August 2005. Available at: http://www.stroke.org.uk/media_centre/facts_and_figures/index.html
2. The Stroke Association Manifesto 2005.
3. NOP World. Realise Your Risk Consumer Survey, Great Britain, July 2005. The survey was carried out by NOP World on their RLO survey. This is a face to face CAPI survey. 1964 adults aged 18+ in GB were interviewed between 7-12 July 2005. Weighting was then applied to the data to bring it in line with national profiles. www.nopworld.com
4. BBC Online. Asking for it? Visited on 8 August 2005. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/yorkslincs/series7/mugging.shtml

The Stroke Association
1. We run a national Stroke Information telephone helpline 0845 30 33 100
2. Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.
3. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.
4. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

back to top|