Stroke is largely preventable, with hypertension confirmed as biggest risk factor, according to INTERSTROKE, a global study

“The Stroke Association helped fund this large, international study which suggests that when combined, ten potentially modifiable risk factors account for 90% of strokes worldwide. High blood pressure was confirmed as the biggest risk factor for stroke, with high cholesterol, diabetes and a number of lifestyle factors also included. The study encourages global stroke prevention programmes. It also recommends programmes which take into account variations in these stroke risk factors by region, as they are further tailored to help the local community. It is already well known that stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet and taking regular exercise can help keep your blood pressure under control, and greatly reduce your risk of having a stroke.”