14 January 2022
Stroke Prevention Day 2022 (14.01.22)
Start reducing your risk of stroke today
When it comes to our health, prevention is always better than cure, which is why #StrokePreventionDay (our annual awareness campaign, launched in partnership with LoSalt) is so important as it encourages people to make small changes now, that will benefit their future health.
We surveyed more than 5,300 stroke survivors ahead of this year’s #StrokePreventionDay (14th January 2022) and found:
- Nine out of ten stroke survivors would go back in time and urge their younger self to make lifestyle changes which may have prevented their stroke
- More than four out of five people hadn’t realised that they were at risk of a stroke
- 17% would reduce their salt intake
- 1 in 3 would lose a set amount of weight, and a quarter would stop smoking
Changes stroke survivors said they would urge their younger self to make would be to reduce stress levels (46%), monitor their blood pressure (37%), monitor high cholesterol (22%), exercise more (32%), eat more healthily (32%) and drink less alcohol (24%).
Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability and the fourth biggest cause of death in the UK. While some strokes are unavoidable, up to nine out of ten are linked to lifestyle and could be preventable if people are aware of the risks and able to make changes. Many people simply don’t realise they are at risk and that’s something that we as a charity desperately want to put right.
We know taking the first steps to prevent the risk of stroke isn’t always easy, so pick something manageable and aim to stick with it for an initial three months, as this is when you are more likely to form a regular habit. Why not commit to having your blood pressure checked regularly? Or try moving more, by signing up to join our Stride for Stroke challenge? Make it even more fun by signing up with a friend!
When it comes to eating healthier, learning to #SeasonWithSense by reducing your salt intake, reading food labels and using herbs and spices to flavour food when cooking, are all easy things which can be done every day, which will have a big impact on your overall health and wellbeing.
For further information on #StrokePreventionDay and advice on the changes you can make this year to help prevent the risk of stroke, visit www.stroke.org.uk/stroke-prevention-day.