28 June 2016

Stroke awareness event in St Leonards

Our Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team (CSRT) will be promoting awareness of stroke and stroke prevention at Asda Supermarket in St Leonards-on-Sea on Thursday 7th July from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

Jacquie Hinves, Community Stroke Specialist Nurse said: “Primary prevention of stroke is taken very seriously by the CSRT. Over the last four years we have been promoting the importance of modifiable risk factors at our stroke road shows. At our next event we will have the opportunity to meet people within the community setting to offer advice, take, record and discuss blood pressures, pulses and weights. We would encourage anyone who is in the area on the day, to come down and meet the team.”

Recent statistics published by the Stroke Association have revealed some shocking evidence. Stroke occurs approximately 152,000 times every year in the UK, that’s one every 3 minutes and 27 seconds. Every year, 46,000 people will have a first incidence of TIA (transient ischaemic attack) or ‘mini stroke’. Stroke is the fourth single largest cause of death in the UK and 80% of strokes are preventable. Examples of modifiable risk factors are hypertension, diabetes, high alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, recreational drugs (cocaine and cannabis), hyperlipidaemia, atrial fibrillation and an increased salt intake.