Get involved with our 2017 campaign to Stop Stroke

Last summer, an important new study published in The Lancet found that nine out of 10 strokes could be prevented. By comparing the lifestyles of people who've had a stroke with those of people who haven’t, totalling over 27,000 people in 32 countries, the researchers identified the top 10 risk factors for stroke – including high blood pressure as the leading cause. 

Every year around 110,000 people in England have a stroke. It’s the third biggest cause of death after cancer and heart disease.

Katharine Jenner of Blood Pressure UK said: “Although it’s shocking to think of the number of strokes that could have been prevented, it’s heartening to know that 90% of strokes could be prevented in the future. That’s why this year we’re launching a UK-wide campaign to let people know they can lower their risk of stroke, and how.” 

Lowering blood pressure could prevent six of every ten strokes

High blood pressure is responsible for roughly 60% of all strokes, so six in 10 strokes could be prevented if blood pressure alone was managed to a healthy level.

Often the first symptom of high blood pressure is a stroke. We want to reach the millions of people who don’t know they have high blood pressure and nudge them towards getting their blood pressure checked and taking steps to improve their health. 


Our campaign 

We're going to launch our stroke prevention campaign during Salt Awareness Week in March 2017. We want to raise awareness of high blood pressure and the health problems it causes – in particular, that it’s the leading cause of stroke – inspiring people to change the way they approach their health. 

How we’re going to start – we will:

• Make high blood pressure front page news during Salt Awareness Week, demonstrating the little known effects of high salt intake and high blood pressure on our health.
• Create a user-friendly guide to eating less salt, covering the foods that are high and low in salt and providing tips on reducing salt intake, as well as posters to raise awareness.
• Develop a collection of blood pressure-friendly recipes.
• Team up with other charities to get the message to as many people as possible. 
• Reach out to food companies and chefs asking them to develop low salt menus. 
• Launch our Cook Challenge to encourage bake-off style competitions in workplaces around the country, where staff compete to see who can cook the tastiest meals, using LoSalt or no salt at all.  
• Make the most of Caribbean flavours by offering advice and creating low salt recipes for popular Caribbean foods, which are often especially salty. 
• Help the nation to take on all the risk factors for stroke. Throughout the year we will release more resources to help people take on the various causes of stroke, one by one. 

Get involved  

Contact us on 020 7882 6255 or email shefalee.loth@bloodpressureuk.org to get involved with any of the following:

Could you share your story? 

Have you been told you’re at risk of stroke due to high blood pressure, or even experienced a stroke or TIA? Have you taken steps to lower your blood pressure? Are you willing to share your story to show others it’s possible to improve your health?  We’d love to hear from you.  

Help raise awareness

Are you a health professional, pharmacist or health information provider? Would you like to help raise awareness of high blood pressure and stroke? Contact us to register an interest in our posters, leaflets and recipe booklet to display in your practice or pharmacy. 

Host a healthy cook-off

Motivate your colleagues to eat well by organising a blood pressure-friendly cook-off. Raise funds for our life-saving work in the process by asking for a small entry fee to take part and try each other's recipes. We will have a low salt recipe booklet available soon for some inspiration. Get in touch for ideas or to pre-order a recipe booklet.

Share your favourite healthy recipes

Do you have a go-to healthy recipe that you’re willing to share on our website? Send it to shefalee.loth@bloodpressureuk.org for others to use in their cook-off or simply eat more healthily.