Take a
moment…
Blood pressure information pack
Together we can conquer stroke
Introduction
By reading this booklet you’re taking the first step
to reduce your risk of stroke.
• There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK
each year; that is around one stroke every five
minutes
• High blood pressure is a contributing factor in
around half of strokes in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland
• 1 in 7 people in the UK are currently diagnosed as
having high blood pressure.
Far too many people don’t understand stroke, and
think it won’t happen to them. But the good news is
that stroke can be prevented.
Take a moment to reduce your risk of stroke and
check your blood pressure. It’s simple, quick and
painless – and you can get it done for free at
your GP practice, in pharmacies or at one of our
Know Your Blood Pressure events:
stroke.org.uk/KYBPevents
2
If you suspect a stroke, act FAST. Call 999.
Facial weakness
Can the person smile?
Arm weakness
Can the person raise both arms?
Speech problems
Can the person speak clearly?
Time to call 999
If they have any of these signs.
We are the UK's leading charity dedicated to
conquering stroke. We rely on your support to
provide vital services, campaign for better stroke
care and to find better treatments.
Together we can conquer stroke.
3
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a brain attack. It happens when the
blood supply to part of your brain is cut off.
Blood carries essential nutrients
and oxygen to your brain so it will
work properly. Without blood,
your brain cells can be damaged
or destroyed and they won’t be
able to do their job. Because your
brain controls everything you do,
feel, think and remember, a stroke
can affect these abilities.
Some strokes are fatal while
others can cause permanent
or temporary paralysis or
communication problems.
4
“I would encourage
everyone to monitor
their blood pressure.
I was too late getting
mine checked out.
It’s one year since
my stroke, and I still
haven’t fully regained
movement in the right
side of my body, so I can’t
go back to work.”
Curtis, aged 37
What is blood pressure?
On average, your heart beats around 70 to 80 times a minute. Blood
pressure is the force with which your blood presses on your arteries’
walls as it is pumped around your body. It’s measured with two
readings – when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and when it relaxes
(diastolic pressure). Both are measured in millimetres of mercury,
written as mmHg. These readings are shown as a fraction. Blood
pressure is always higher when the heart beats than when it relaxes.
110
100
H
yp
er
n
te
er
rd
ve
si
Bo
90
lin
e
or
80
N
Diastolic blood pressure
A normal adult blood pressure should be less than around 140/90
mmHg. The optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. If
yours is consistently above 140/90 mmHg (or 130/80 mmHg if you’re
diabetic) then you will be considered to have high blood pressure or
‘hypertension’.
m
al
120
140
160
180
Systolic blood pressure
5
What links stroke and high
blood pressure?
Most strokes happen when a blood clot blocks
the flow of blood to the brain.
High blood pressure puts a
strain on all the blood vessels
throughout your body, including
the ones leading to the brain. As
a result, your heart has to work
much harder to keep the blood
circulation going. This strain
can damage your blood vessels,
causing them to become harder
and narrower, a condition called
atherosclerosis. This makes a
blockage more likely to occur,
which could cause a stroke or
transient ischaemic attack
(TIA, sometimes called a
mini stroke).
On rare occasions, this extra
strain may cause a blood vessel
to weaken and burst inside the
brain, causing bleeding into
surrounding tissues. This is
called a haemorraghic stroke.
High blood pressure often shows no symptoms.
There is no way of knowing that you have high blood
pressure apart from having it measured.
6
Shirley’s
story
Four days after she turned 56,
Shirley, a civil servant from
Knaresborough, had a stroke.
An ambulance took her straight
to hospital, where she spent six
weeks receiving treatment and
starting to recover. She says:
“I had to learn how to cope with
the loss of movement on my
right hand side and partial loss
of sight. My speech was very
slurred right after the stroke,
but luckily it came back quickly.”
Now retired from work, Shirley
takes medication to keep her
blood pressure low and checks
it regularly to prevent another
stroke. “I consider myself a
‘work in progress’. My right
hand, fingers and arm have still
not come back to full use so
I keep exercising them, but
I don’t get as tired as I used
to and I can walk with a stick.
Exercise also helps me to fight
high blood pressure and prevent
another stroke.”
7
How can I reduce my
risk of stroke?
Lifestyle changes can bring blood pressure down
to a normal level. These include:
• stopping smoking
• eating a healthy diet
• drinking sensibly
• taking regular exercise
If lifestyle changes do not reduce blood
pressure to within normal ranges and it is
consistently above 140/90 mmHg, there
are prescribed medications available that
can reduce it. Your doctor will be able to
advise you further about any medication
that you may require.
Once your blood pressure has been
reduced to within the normal range you
should make sure you have it measured
at least once a year.
8
Brian’s story
In 2013, 50-year-old father of two Brian had an excruciating
and persistent pain in his head. Brian went to see his doctor,
who checked his blood pressure and found that it was
extremely high. Brian was transferred to hospital stroke ward.
Thankfully Brian had not had a stroke, and was given tablets
to control his blood pressure and his headaches. Brian now
checks his blood pressure each month.
Brian says: "I would encourage everyone to take a moment to
monitor their blood pressure. I was late getting mine checked
out. From having the scare of thinking I’d had a stroke, I now
realise just how important it is to know your blood pressure.”
9
What next ?
You’ve taken the first step to reduce your risk of
stroke by reading this booklet. Now get your blood
pressure checked – it’s easy, quick and painless.
•• Your GP or nurse will do this,
and some surgeries even
have a self-test machine in
reception
•• Pharmacies will check your
blood pressure with no need
for an appointment
•• This year, we’ve joined forces
with Well pharmacy to help
prevent avoidable strokes.
Pop into your local Well
pharmacy to ask about their
free Blood Pressure Service.
•• The Stroke Association
runs hundreds of Know Your
Blood Pressure events every
year. As well as testing your
blood pressure, we offer free,
friendly advice on all aspects
of stroke. Find your nearest
one at
stroke.org.uk/KYBPevents.
If your blood pressure is high,
you can find out more about
treatment and questions to ask
your GP in our free factsheet,
High blood pressure and stroke
For more information about other
risk factors for stroke and ways to
manage them, download or order
our free leaflet, How to prevent
a stroke
To help other people reduce their
risk of stroke, sign up to host a
Know Your Blood Pressure event.
We’ll send you everything you need
to help your friends, family and
community take action to reduce
their risk of stroke.
stroke.org.uk/KYBPevents
If you suspect a stroke, act
10
. Call 999.
Support our work
We are the UK's leading stroke charity.
We rely on your support to change lives and prevent stroke.
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Thank you for your support
We are the Stroke Association
We believe that stroke can and should be
prevented. It’s why we fund research to
develop new treatments and ways to prevent
stroke. It’s why we raise awareness and give
people the information they need to reduce
their risk of having a stroke. We’d rather no
one had a stroke at all, but if they do, we’re
with them every step of the way to make the
best recovery they can.
We are a charity. We rely on your support
to change lives and prevent stroke.
Stroke Helpline: 0303 3033 100
Website: stroke.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
From a textphone: 18001 0303 3033 100
Together we can conquer stroke
© Stroke Association, March 2017
Item Code: A04BP14 © Stroke Association 2017, JN 2609a
Stroke Association is a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England and Wales (No 61274).
Registered office: Stroke Association House, 240 City Road, London EC1V 2PR.
Registered as a Charity in England and Wales (No 211015) and in Scotland (SC037789).
Also registered in Northern Ireland (XT33805) Isle of Man (No 945) and Jersey (NPO 369).