Stroke Awareness is the word on Brookside Close

ACTOR Matthew Crompton and his on screen partner Ruth Gordon, played by Lyndsey McCaffrey, on Channel 4's Brookside will be queuing up to have their blood pressures checked on Monday September 30th for The Stroke Association's annual Stroke Awareness Week which runs from September 29th until
October 5th.

Matthew who plays Dan Morrisey is urging the soap's cast and crew to have their blood pressures checked when representatives from the charity visit the set. He says: "High blood pressure is the number one preventable risk factor for stroke. Everyone should know what their blood pressure reading is. The Stroke Association will be holding blood pressure check points across the country during Stroke Awareness Week and I urge people to go along."

The theme for this year's Stroke Awareness Week is Let's get physical and the charity will be encouraging everyone to incorporate some form of physical activity into every day life. Regular physical activity can help lower blood pressure. Research has shown that people who don't exercise more than double their risk of suffering a stroke compared to those who do exercise regularly 1.

Eoin Redahan, Director of Public Relations at The Stroke Association says, "The best way to get fit is to incorporate activity into your day-to-day life such as walking to work or getting off the bus a stop earlier than usual. It is never too late to start exercising but, we would always recommend a GP consultation before people begin, especially if they haven't taken exercise for a while."

To receive information on Stroke Awareness Week including an Eight-Week Challenge physical activity pack telephone 01604 623933

Ends

For further press information or to book a Stroke Awareness Week interview please telephone the Press Office on 020 7566 0328 /0317. Fax 020 7490 3073.

Notes to editor

· Photographers are welcome to the studios. Please contact Elaine Boundy on 0151 7374049 for further details .
· 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.
· Stroke is on e of the biggest killers and the largest single cause of serious adult disability in the UK. Around 100,000 people in England and Wales suffer a stroke each year - about 10,000 are under the age of 55 and 1,000 are under the age of 30. One person every five minutes will suffer a first stroke.
· The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke.

1. Herman B et al. An evaluation of risk factors for stroke in a Dutch community. Stroke 1982; 299: 380-7.

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