Huntingdonshire District Council and the Rotary Club of Huntingdon Cromwell in partnership with the Stroke Association are running the Rotary Stroke and Health Awareness Day for the sixth year running on 26 April, in Chequers Court, Huntingdon, between 10 am and 3 pm. Come along and have your blood pressure taken and learn more about diet and nutrition, energy efficiency and how to become fitter and more active.
A Camquit advisor will be on hand to provide help and support if you want to give up smoking and The NHS Falls team will also be there to give practical advice on dealing with the effects of stroke.
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the UK, along with cancer and heart disease. Every year, an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. It is the leading cause of adult disability in the UK, with more than 250,000 people living with disabilities caused by stroke. Stroke costs our economy £7 billion every year in related health and social care.
Most people affected are over 65, but anyone can have a stroke, including children and even babies. Around 1000 people under 30 have a stroke each year. Men are more likely to have a stroke than women and strokes are more common in people over 55, and this risk continues to rise with age. This is because arteries harden and become 'furred up' by a build-up of cholesterol and other debris (atherosclerosis) over many years.
Having a close relative who has had a stroke increases the risk, possibly because of conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes that tend to run in families. People from Asian, African and African-Caribbean communities are at greater risk of a stroke as well as people with medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
For free advice and information on how to reduce your risk why not come along and pay the team a visit between 10 am and 3 pm at the Stroke Awareness Day, Chequers Court, on Saturday 26 April 2008. there will be free blood pressure checks, help on how to quit smoking, and practical advice on healthy eating.
Click on the link on the right for advice and information on stroke.