Nine out of ten stroke survivors in Wales would warn their younger self to change their lifestyle, according to Stroke Association survey

Nine out of ten stroke survivors would go back in time and urge their younger self to make lifestyle changes which may have prevented their stroke, a new UK-wide survey by the Stroke Association has revealed.

Nearly nine out of ten people (87%) surveyed in Wales say they hadn’t realised that they were at risk of a stroke.

But over nine out of ten had since made lifestyle changes. This is important to the two in five people who may go on to have a second stroke¹.

The charity has released the findings to mark Stroke Prevention Day, on Friday 14 January, and is urging everyone to make one small change to reduce their own risk of stroke. Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability and the fourth biggest cause of death in the UK. While some strokes are unavoidable, up to nine out of ten are linked to lifestyle and could be preventable if people are aware of the risks and able to make changes².

Tyge Byrne, 57 from Cardiff was only 53 when he had his stroke. The stroke affected his mobility and his speech. He was told by the doctors that his unhealthy lifestyle was likely to have played a factor in him having a stroke.

He says:

“There is no word to describe my stroke other than devastating. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t use my arm and my speech was completely muddled. To top it all, my wife of 36 years left me whilst I was in hospital. If only I hadn’t had the stroke. I had immediate regrets about my lifestyle which was dangerously unhealthy.

“I drank every night and was a smoker. My diet was poor – I’d eat takeaways regularly and my portions were too large. I didn’t even think about the body blow that was about to hit me as a result of my lifestyle.

“If only I’d known what was going to face me for the rest of my life, I’d have led a healthier life. The thought of having another stroke is terrifying, so I made the decision to change things.

“I don’t drink or smoke anymore. I’ve gone from takeaways and microwaved meals to a balanced diet and I’m doing more exercise. I do moderate exercise indoors and am going to start outdoor exercise, not only for my general health, but to improve the deficits of my stroke. I feel a whole lot healthier and life has improved so much for me. I’ve gone from feeling like life wasn’t worth living, to having a real sense of purpose.”

The leading change survivors would urge their younger self to make, would be to reduce stress levels with 47% saying they would have done this. Other changes stroke survivors would have made include:

• Monitor blood pressure – 40%
• Eat more healthily – 30%
• Lose a set amount of weight (for example one stone or ten kilograms) – 30%
• Exercise more – 28%
• Drink less alcohol – 24%
• Monitor high cholesterol – 23%
• Stop smoking – 20%
• Reduce salt intake – 14%

As a first step, the Stroke Association wants people to make one small change to reduce their risk of stroke, starting on Stroke Prevention Day.

Examples include:

• Having your blood pressure, cholesterol and pulse checked regularly
• Stopping smoking
• Having a number of alcohol-free days each week
• Changing your diet to include less salt or switching to a reduced sodium alternative such as LoSalt®
• Eating more fruit and vegetables
• Getting up and moving regularly during the day, especially if you’re working from home
• Joining an online exercise or activity group, or better still, taking on the charity’s Stride for Stroke challenge – one step for each of the 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK.

Katie Chappelle, Associate Director Wales at the Stroke Association said: “A stroke happens in the brain, the control centre for who we are and what we can do. It can happen at any time and at any age and can be devastating.

“We know not all strokes are avoidable, but as many as nine out of ten strokes could be prevented as they are linked to things you can change or manage. Many people simply don’t realise they are at risk and that’s something that we as a charity desperately want to put right.

“The effects of a stroke can be life-changing for you and your family, so why not do all you can to avoid one yourself?

“However, we know that it isn't always easy, so pick something that’s manageable for you. Aim to stick with it for an initial three months and, if you can do that, you’re more likely to form a regular habit.

“The good news from this research is that over nine out of ten stroke survivors have already taken steps to reduce their risk of having another stroke.”

The charity’s campaign has been launched in partnership with LoSalt®.

Almost a third of stroke survivors said they would exercise more and an ideal way to motivate yourself is to sign up for the Stride for Stroke challenge. Find out about this and the other things you can do at www.stroke.org.uk/stroke-prevention-day. Money raised will help the charity’s work supporting stroke survivors and carers across the UK.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Angie Macleod, Communications Officer at the Stroke Association at Angela.Macleod@stroke.org.uk or 07810 118184.

Notes to editors

About the research

Statistics based on a UK-wide survey of 5,330 stroke survivors, conducted by the Stroke Association in December 2021.

In addition to asking stroke survivors what changes they would urge their younger self to make, we also asked what changes they had made to reduce their risk of a second stroke. The top answers were:

Please note that if you take some types of medication that affect potassium levels, LoSalt® and other reduced sodium salt alternatives may not be suitable for you. This includes people receiving medication for diabetes, heart or kidney disorders. Check with your GP for advice.