The Stroke Association is supporting Salt Awareness Week which runs from 29 February – 6 March 2016. Current guidelines suggest we should be eating no more than about a teaspoon of salt a day but statistics show we are eating far more than we require. Eating large amounts of salt can cause high blood pressure which is the single biggest risk factor for stroke.
Nice has published updated guidelines on a clot-removing procedure called thrombectomy for patients who have had a stroke
A recent paper published in the BMJ queried the assessment of the ROCKET AF study that the drug Rivaroxaban is effective in reducing Atrial Fibrillation (AF) related stroke. The group who undertook the ROCKET AF study reviewed their data and have now published their finding in the New England Journal of Medicine that Rivaroxaban does not show any increased bleeding risk compared to warfarin.
Stroke Association warns cuts to services will have a huge impact on East Sussex stroke survivors and carers East Sussex County Council met on 26 January to discuss its budget. It proposed ceasing funding of the Stroke Association’s support services in the county. This recommendation will now go to a full Council meeting on Tuesday 9 February for ratification.
Stroke Association statement on discussion about the statistic that there is a higher risk of stroke mortality for hospital admissions at weekends.
The SSNAP post-acute audit from the Royal College of Physicians gives us a picture of the care available to stroke survivors when they leave a stroke unit. These findings give us a much more complete picture of the services available and what needs to be in place to ensure consistently good care.
Research reported in the press suggested that clinicians are poor at approximating the weight of patients with stroke when they are treated in an acute setting, it recommended that beds capable of weighing patients should be mandated in emergency rooms.
Alexis Wieroniey, Deputy Director for Policy and Influencing at the Stroke Association comments on the latest Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) report which relates to treatment for patients admitted between April and June 2015.
Public Health England, NHS England and NHS RightCare have today launched the third and biggest NHS Atlas of Variation in Healthcare to help commissioners, service providers and health professionals deliver the best healthcare.
Recent research published in The Lancet showed working 55 hours or more per week is linked to a 33% greater risk of stroke compared with working a standard 35 to 40 hour week. It is the largest study in this field so far involving over 600000 individuals.
Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of the Stroke Association, said:
"We are deeply saddened to hear that Cilla Black died following a stroke. She is one of the hundreds of thousands of people affected by stroke every year.
“It happens out of the blue, often with no warning signs and is more common than people think. While the majority of people will survive, they have to live with its long-term ef
Bridget Birgin, Director of UK Life After Stroke Services at the Stroke Association said “There are too many powerful myths about stroke; that it only affects older people or that people can’t recover. These myths stop people from taking action to prevent stroke and supporting stroke survivors to make the best recovery they can.
“Advances in medical research have helped to halve the numbers of
