STROKE AWARENESS DAY - KNOW YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

The Rotary Club of Bexhill of Bexhill hosted a Know Your Blood Pressure event on Saturday 17th April at Bexhill Sailing Club to help highlight the risk factors of stroke to the local population.

The event took place from 09.00 to 12.00, offering the public a free blood pressure measuring service and information on related health issues. The annual Know Your Blood Pressure Campaign is run by The Stroke Association to help people better understand the relation between high blood pressure (hypertension) and stroke.

It is estimated that 40% of the 150,000 strokes suffered by people in the UK each year could be prevented by controlling high blood pressure. High blood pressure is often called the 'silent killer' as it does not always have any symptoms. It is the single biggest risk factor for stroke yet it is estimated a quarter of adults have high blood pressure but are completely unaware of it.

Last year, the Know Your Blood Pressure initiative saw over 13,000 people across the UK take up the chance to have their blood pressure taken. As a result, nearly 3,000 were advised to see their GP for more tests and a further 200 were urged to seek medical advice immediately.

Roger Heyes from Rotary Club of Bexhill says "The single biggest risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure. However the blood pressure test is a short, painless and simple one so we urge people to come along to our event at Bexhill Sailing Club and get tested"

Jon Barrick, CEO of The Stroke Association said: "One of the biggest challenges is to make people understand that strokes don't just happen to older people. They can happen to anyone, at any age. The Know Your Blood Pressure campaign plays an invaluable role in reaching out to people, encouraging them to have regular checks and take action when needed".

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.

See the results of this very sucessfull day in our Community Service section