The Stroke Association's commitment to The All Party Group on Healthy Living and its launch on Wednesday 2nd February 2005

The Stroke Association is delighted to be an enthusiastic partner in the development and launch of the All Party Group on Healthy Living at the National Assembly for Wales on Wednesday 2nd February. All who work in the National Assembly are invited to take part in a healthy living day. As part of this, The Stroke Association will be holding blood pressure checks, surveying Assembly Members' knowledge and perceptions on binge drinking and offering advice on alcohol consumption, salt in the diet, smoking, exercise and healthy eating. The launch event aims to encourage Assembly Members to 'Rise to the Challenge' of creating a healthier Wales, by urging people to take personal responsibility for their own health.

It is essential that we can dispel the common misconceptions attached to stroke and help promote healthy living in Wales. Strokes are sudden and attack the brain without warning. They can happen to anyone at any time. 130,000 people in Wales and England have a stroke every year. It is vital that people in Wales develop a greater understanding of the gravity and impact of stroke. It is important to help increase peoples understanding about the simple lifestyle changes they can make to decrease their chances of having a stroke.

The Stroke Association will continue to work with local communities in Wales, to share health promotion knowledge and educate the general public about stroke and stroke prevention.

For further information please contact Catherine Griffith at The Stroke Association on 020 2052 1495 or email cgriffith@stroke.org.uk

Notes to editor

1. Each year over 130,000 people in Wales and England 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. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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