Blood pressure check could save your life, says Oxford stroke survivor

An Oxford woman whose high blood pressure contributed to her having a stroke is warning others to check theirs – it could save their life.

Judith Graham, a retired GP, said she may never have had her stroke if her hypertension had been identified and treated.

She is sharing her story in support of the Stroke Association’s Stroke Prevention Day awareness campaign on Thursday 30 January.

Judith had a stroke at a party she was hosting on New Year’s Eve 2023, nine months after retiring from The Key Medical Practice, Kidlington.

“I just suddenly turned and collapsed to my knees,” said Judith.

“I didn’t feel anything else. I felt completely well but when I went to stand up I couldn’t. At the party there was a doctor I had helped to train. She said I think you’ve had a stroke.”

Judith was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital where the diagnosis was confirmed. She was patient there for almost two months before transferring to the Abingdon Community Hospital for rehab for further month and was supported by the Stroke Association.

Her stroke has left her with difficulty walking, weakness in her right hand and reduced vision in her right eye.

“The stroke appeared to come out of the blue but in fact my blood pressure unbeknown to me was very high,” said Judith, who is now aged 66.

“It shows that even though you think you are fine and feel fine, as you get older, you should really make sure to get your blood pressure checked regularly.

“Had I known I had high blood pressure it would have been treated earlier and I might never have had the stroke.

“It is all too easy because everyone is so busy to put off ensuring that basic health checks are carried out!

“We need to prioritise our own self-care and not allow the world to make too many demands on us.”

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.

Nick O’Donohue, the Stroke Association’s associate director for the South East, 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 Find out more, and share your thoughts on the 10 Year Health Plan here: 10 Year Health Plan | Stroke Association