WORLD Stroke Awareness Day took place this week. 

Strokes take over 6 million lives per year but 90% are preventable

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. Over 12 million people suffer from stroke each year; of these 6.5 million will die but 90% of strokes could be prevented.

World Stroke Awareness Day took place on October 29 and this year the spotlight is on physical activity for stroke prevention (and recovery).

Physical inactivity is one of the biggest risks for stroke, which means adding some exercise into your daily routine is the easiest way to reduce your risk today.

Ahead of the day itself, our Early Supported Stroke Discharge team (ESSD) visited Malcolm’s Logistics HGV yard in Penrith to offer blood pressure checks to their drivers and staff.

ESSD team lead Angela Storey, said: “The afternoon was to highlight the importance of knowing your numbers in relationship to your blood pressure, especially in a sedentary job, and knowing when to contact your GP as this can help with stroke prevention.”

The afternoon was well received and all that attended appreciated the time the staff had spent and the help given to answer questions and signpost to other organisations.

The manager at Malcolm’s logistics said: “I just wanted to say a big thank you for spending some time with us this afternoon.

"There has been some great feedback from both staff and drivers and I think those of us who were lucky enough to have been able to see you have genuinely gained something from it.”