Blood pressure check could save your life says Bristol stroke survivor

A superfit Bristol man who had two strokes is warning others to check their blood pressure regularly as it could save their life.

Danny Lloyd is sharing his stroke in support of the Stroke Association’s Stroke Prevention Day awareness campaign on Thursday 30 January.

Danny was a keen gym-goer and had been placed third in his first body-building competition when he had his first stroke aged 22 in 1995.

It was followed by another 18 years later. The caused was a combination of an autoimmune disease called antiphospholipid syndrome (or APS) which causes the blood to clot too quickly, and high blood pressure.

“Stroke can happen to anyone of any age, and not just older people, which is what I used to think,” said Danny, who lives in Stoke Gifford.

“I was fit, strong and healthy, and my first stroke was very unexpected,”

“My stroke in 2013 was another total surprise, as my condition was well managed, but I didn’t I know I had high blood pressure. Having these quick and easy checks could save your life.

“Because of this, I want to encourage people to monitor their own blood pressure or get regular checks at your GP or local pharmacist.”

Danny was a design engineer/project manager for a national house builder prior to his second stroke but has been unable to work since. He is limited by poor mobility and balance and significant fatigue, something which many stroke survivors face.

“Stroke affects people in different ways, but for me it’s mostly my balance and coordination that has gone,” said Danny. “Basically, my head wants to do things, my body can’t.”

High blood pressure accounts for half or strokes

New statistics from the Stroke Association show that a worryingly large proportion of UK adults don’t know that high blood pressure is the most likely cause of stroke.

Findings from the leading stroke support charity show that 36% of people who have experience of, and therefore a connection, to stroke don’t know that high blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for the condition.

In addition, the Stroke Association has found that awareness levels are even lower amongst people who don’t have such a connection to stroke, with 43% not knowing that high blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke.

There are 1.4 million people in the UK who are survivors of stroke and someone has a stroke every five minutes, with high blood pressure accounting for around half of those.

Stroke survivors are frequently left with physical and mental disabilities including paralysis, problems with vision, difficulties swallowing and a struggle to communicate.

Jacqui Cuthbert, the Stroke Association’s associate director for the South West and the Channels Island, said: “Around 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke every year. Worryingly, this has been increasing over the last 20 years, particularly amongst people of working age.

“The lives of the 90,000 people who survive stroke every year in the UK change in an instant as the condition impacts on their ability to live physically and mentally well.

“It is vital that everyone knows what can cause a stroke, so they can proactively look after their health to reduce the risk. We’re encouraging adults of any age to get their blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This will equip them with knowledge on whether they are at risk of having a stroke so that they can take steps to reduce their chances, if required.”

Find out more at www.stroke.org.uk/stroke-prevention-day

Whilst people of any age can have a stroke, it is most likely to impact those over the age of 65. Free blood pressure checks are available from the GP, participating pharmacies, and are also part of NHS health checks for those over the age of 40 in England and Wales.

Yet recent data from the National Audit Office found that only 44% of eligible adults attended these health checks in the last five years.

If you have high blood pressure, and want to support the Stroke Association, get involved with its fundraising initiative, Stride for Stroke. The charity is asking people to take one step for each of the 1.4 million stroke survivors currently living in the UK, which works out as 10,000 steps per day for 140 days.

Spin or Swim for Stroke also allows participants to set a personal challenge for time or distance. Or Run 50 asks people to cover 50 miles across a month of their choice. Visit Choose Your Challenge | Stroke Association

The Stroke Association supports stroke survivors and their families by phone, at home, and in the community. Find out more at www.stroke.org.uk

The charity is also lobbying the Government to prioritise stroke prevention as part of the 10 Year Health Plan for England. Find out more, and share your thoughts on the 10 Year Health Plan here: 10 Year Health Plan | Stroke Association.