Blood pressure check could save your life, says Margate stroke survivor

A Margate man whose high blood pressure contributed to him having a stroke is warning others to check theirs – it could save their life.

John Glover, said: “Don’t end up like I did. People think that ‘nothing’s going to happen to me’ and then bang!”

He is sharing his story in support of the Stroke Association’s Stroke Prevention Day awareness campaign on Thursday 30 January.

John, a 72-year-old retired carpenter, was at home with wife Maralyn when he had his stroke in March 2022.

“I walked down the hall leaning against the wall. When I realised I couldn’t open the fridge, I knew something was wrong. I tried to speak to Maralyn but I was just mumbling.

“She was a dental nurse for 30 years. She took one look one look at me, said ‘you’re having a stroke’, put me straight into the car and QEQM Hospital.”

John was treated quickly but the stroke has left him with aphasia - difficulty with communication – and difficulty with fine motor skills on his left side.

“I was frightened of everything at first; weak and tearful. I was like a toddler. I stumbled and mumbled with help from local groups and constant muscle flexing I'm getting better.

“I actually knew I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol before my stroke, and I was trying be healthy by exercising but obviously I wasn’t doing enough. I didn’t know that I had diabetes and that was also a factor.

“They say ignorance is bliss but knowledge is power, so get your blood pressure checked!”

“I was probably fitter and stronger than the average 70 year old and I liked to cycle and go to sea in my kayak.”

John was supported by the Stroke Association’s East Kent Stroke Recovery Service, attending a communication group to help with his aphasia and build his confidence.

“I also have balance issues, and fitness dance at Fit Steps with Jill in Margate has made a massive difference for me over the last 18 months.”

High blood pressure accounts for half or strokes

New statistics from the Stroke Association show that a worryingly large proportion of UK adults don’t know that high blood pressure is the most likely cause of stroke.

Findings from the leading stroke support charity show that 36% of people who have experience of, and therefore a connection, to stroke don’t know that high blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for the condition.

In addition, the Stroke Association has found that awareness levels are even lower amongst people who don’t have such a connection to stroke, with 43% not knowing that high blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke.

There are 1.4 million people in the UK who are survivors of stroke and someone has a stroke every five minutes, with high blood pressure accounting for around half of those.

Stroke survivors are frequently left with physical and mental disabilities including paralysis, problems with vision, difficulties swallowing and a struggle to communicate.

Nick O’Donohue, the Stroke Association’s associate director for the South East, said: “Around 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke every year. Worryingly, this has been increasing over the last 20 years, particularly amongst people of working age.

“The lives of the 90,000 people who survive stroke every year in the UK change in an instant as the condition impacts on their ability to live physically and mentally well.

“It is vital that everyone knows what can cause a stroke, so they can proactively look after their health to reduce the risk. We’re encouraging adults of any age to get their blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This will equip them with knowledge on whether they are at risk of having a stroke so that they can take steps to reduce their chances, if required.”

Find out more at www.stroke.org.uk/stroke-prevention-day

Whilst people of any age can have a stroke, it is most likely to impact those over the age of 65. Free blood pressure checks are available from the GP, participating pharmacies, and are also part of NHS health checks for those over the age of 40 in England and Wales.

Yet recent data from the National Audit Office found that only 44% of eligible adults attended these health checks in the last five years.

If you have high blood pressure, and want to support the Stroke Association, get involved with its fundraising initiative, Stride for Stroke. The charity is asking people to take one step for each of the 1.4 million stroke survivors currently living in the UK, which works out as 10,000 steps per day for 140 days.

Spin or Swim for Stroke also allows participants to set a personal challenge for time or distance. Or Run 50 asks people to cover 50 miles across a month of their choice. Visit Choose Your Challenge | Stroke Association

The Stroke Association supports stroke survivors and their families by phone, at home, and in the community. Find out more at www.stroke.org.uk

The charity is also lobbying the Government to prioritise stroke prevention as part of the 10 Year Health Plan for England. Find out more, and share your thoughts on the 10 Year Health Plan here: 10 Year Health Plan | Stroke Association.