High blood pressure
High blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for stroke. It is a contributing factor in around half of all strokes.
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High blood pressure and stroke
Resource type: Information leaflet
Publication type: Stroke information
High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for stroke. In the UK, 9.5 million people are diagnosed with high blood pressure, with a further 5.5 million cases undiagnosed. This guide explains the link between high blood pressure and stroke, the medication used to treat it and some steps you can take to lower your blood pressure.
Learn more about blood pressure
Blood pressure is the force that blood puts on the walls of your arteries when it is pumped around your body by your heart.
High blood pressure puts a strain on all the blood vessels in your body. This makes a blockage more likely to develop and move, or a blood vessel in the brain weaken and bleed, both could cause a stroke.
Know Your Blood Pressure (KYBP)
Our Know Your Blood Pressure campaign helps people to understand the link between high blood pressure and stroke, other stroke risk factors and what they can do to reduce their risk of having a stroke. We offer free blood pressure information and hold free blood pressure testing events across the UK.
Stroke Association/BHF Joint Programme Grant: The importance of variability in blood pressure after acute stroke
The importance of variability in blood pressure after acute stroke
How intensively should we treat blood pressure in patients with disease of the small blood vessels in the brain?
In this study we are testing the theory that by treating BP more intensively we will delay progression of the disease. We will also use state-of-the-art MRI imaging techniques to look at the mechanisms by which any beneficial effect of BP occurs.
Does variability of brain blood flow increase stroke risk in stroke survivors and after TIA?
This research is focused on assessing the relationship between the variability of the blood flow through the blood vessels supplying the brain, and the risk of stroke in patients who have already had a stroke or “mini-stroke” (TIA) in the past.
Register your Know Your Blood Pressure event to receive an event welcome pack and our event guidelines, giving you all the information you need to organise a successful event.
Take a Moment Blood Pressure Information Pack
Resource type: Information leaflet
Publication type: Take action
Our Blood Pressure Information Pack tells you where you can get your blood pressure tested to help reduce your risk of stroke.