Welsh Government
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Plan to reduce stroke risk in Wales
An action plan to reduce the risk of people developing a stroke has been agreed, Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced.
In 2008, more than 2,000 people died from a stroke and according to the Welsh Health Survey and nearly one in 10 people over the age of 65 have received treatment for stroke.
The 40-point plan, developed by Public Health Wales, includes:
- Helping people to lead healthy lifestyles by encouraging physical activity and a balanced diet, and discouraging people from risky behaviours such as smoking and excessive drinking;
- Supporting the creation of healthy settings, such as healthier schools, hospitals and workplaces;
- Working with community pharmacies to raise awareness of stroke risk and using Medication Usage Reviews to support the correct use of anti-hypertensive medication; and,
- Developing a campaign to raise awareness of risk factors such as hypertension and atrial fibrillation. This will be the first Assembly Government funded campaign that will also look at atrial fibrillation, which can double a person’s risk of stroke.
Evidence shows that high blood pressure can increase people’s risk of Transient Ischaemic Attack (temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain) and stroke by as much as 40 per cent. Atrial fibrillation means the blood in the atria – the upper chambers of the heart – does not flow in a normal way and can result in the development of blood clots.
The campaign will encourage people to have their blood pressure and their pulse checked, improve diagnosis and make sure people at greater risk of stroke are referred to treatment.
Mrs Hart said:
“As well as investing in improving services, we are also investing in educating people about the main risk factors for stroke.
“People may not know that high blood pressure or atrial fibrillation can increase their risk of having a stroke and that there are effective ways of detecting and treating their conditions.
“The new campaign will focus on raising awareness of the main risk factors for stroke and support health professionals to correctly diagnose and treat those risk factors. Investing in educating people about this will help to save lives and will also reduce the pressure on the NHS in terms of treating stroke.”
Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB, Chair of Public Health Wales, said:
"It is most rewarding for Public Health Wales to gain the approval by Edwina Hart, Minister for Health and Social Services, of its Action Plan for Stroke Risk Reduction. This is the first campaign funded by the Welsh Assembly Government that will also focus on atrial fibrillation which can double a person's risk of stroke. Furthermore, high blood pressure which often goes undetected can increase this risk. The campaign which will encourage people to have their pulse and blood pressure checked, will greatly aid the detection of those who are at risk developing stroke so that they can be appropriately treated to reduce that risk."
Dr Anne Freeman of the Wales Stroke Alliance added:
“I am delighted that the Health Minister has approved the Action Plan for Stroke Risk Reduction. Stroke is the third commonest cause of death and the greatest cause of adult disability. The impact of stroke is devastating for a large percentage of stroke survivors and their families as well as putting a huge financial burden on the NHS and community services.
“Currently there are about 7,500 new strokes per year in Wales. It is therefore so important that we reduce this number. The program of work for stroke risk reduction will be looking at relevant lifestyle changes, recognition and treatment of high blood pressure and Atrial Fibrillation and early assessment and management of Transient Ischaemic Attacks.”Related Links
