Stroke awareness

Did you know?

• Someone has a stroke every 5 minutes?
• 1 in 4 stroke victims will be under 65?
• 2 out of 3 will die or be left disabled?
• Stroke is the third biggest killer in the UK

Over 150,000 people in the UK will have a stroke in the next year, and more than 300,000 people are living with moderate to severe disabilities as a result. Others are suffering from impaired speech, incontinence, erectile dysfunction, hearing and sight loss.

To reduce your chances of having a stroke, there are actions you can take:

• Check your blood pressure regularly
• Avoiding smoking
• Eat well
• Drink sensibly
• Exercising regularly

 By doing these things, you will also be safeguarding yourself from a heart attack.

Find out more about the ways you can reduce your chances of having a stroke by visiting the NHS Web site, see link to the right. For further information and advice on stroke prevention, see your doctor or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.