Health bookletStroke can be prevented by identifying risks and making simple lifestyle changes such as giving up smoking, monitoring high blood pressure, cholesterol, and taking regular exercise.
These are the guidelines for preventing stroke in a free information booklet published by the Volunteer Stroke Scheme (VSS).
Dr Peter Kelly, consultant neurologist, director of the Mater hospital stroke service and VSS medical adviser, said stroke was very common but was the "Cinderella" of the big disease groups of cancer, heart disease and Aids.
"From the point of view of resources, stroke is equally deserving but there is little discussion at every level from public awareness to policy," he said.
The main factors in causing stroke are high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight, lack of exercise and smoking. However, people also needed to get blood pressure checked twice a year, cholesterol once a year, diabetes once every one or two years and definitely not to smoke, Dr Kelly said.
There were two other factors. The first was atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat) which could be easily detected and treated by a GP. The other is a mini-stroke, causing symptoms such as temporary loss of eyesight in one eye, numbness or loss of speech for only a short time and not seeking medical help.
It is estimated there are 30,000 people in the State with disability after stroke which was also responsible for over 2,000 deaths in 2003. Dr Kelly said stroke was the third most common cause of death in the State and the leading cause of acquired adult disability. Every year there were over 8,000 acute strokes but the good news was that it could be helped.
High blood pressure, the leading risk factor for stroke, increased a patient's risk four-fold and smoking almost doubled the risk.
The booklet, Stroke Prevention - Avoiding a First or Second Stroke, is available free by sending an A4 or A5 stamped self-addressed envelope to the Volunteer Stroke Scheme, 249 Crumlin Rd, Dublin 12 or by tel: 01-4559036.