Stroke Foundation, St John and Lions in partnership
to reduce New Zealand stroke risk
St John have joined forces with the Stroke Foundation and Lions to help run the 2009 National Blood Pressure Awareness Campaign in September.
This team of charities will offer free blood pressure checks on Saturday 12 September 2009 at approximately 150 community venues nationwide. The Stroke Foundation will arrange venues and other key resources, St John will provide volunteers to do the blood pressure checks, and Lions will provide further support at each venue.
Currently, one in five New Zealanders have high blood pressure, and a third of these do not know it. This 2009 campaign seeks to improve on the Foundation’s successful 2008 awareness campaign by further highlighting the role of blood pressure as the major preventable stroke risk factor.
Some of the goals of the 2009 campaign include helping New Zealanders know and manage their blood pressure, and encouraging people to check their blood pressure regularly.
Stroke Foundation CEO Mark Vivian said: "The partnership with St John will add a valuable dimension to the campaign, given St John's clinical expertise and excellent reputation in the community."
St John CEO Jaimes Wood believes this campaign “demonstrates a collaborative, community driven approach to a major health issue, and provides a model on which future health promotion initiatives can build."
At the blood pressure sites, only trained St John members or other qualified health providers will perform the checks. The readings will be recorded for participants to take away, and those with high readings will be advised to visit their doctor. Participants will receive a package of useful information about blood pressure and stroke.
Notes to Editor:
1. A stroke is a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain, causing brain cell damage. Basically, it is a brain attack.
2. Stroke is the second single largest killer in New Zealand (about 2500 people every year – which is 7 people a day).
3. Stroke is the major cause of adult disability in New Zealand.
4. Every day, 22 New Zealanders have a stroke.
5. The Stroke Foundation is New Zealand’s only organisation solely dedicated to reducing the risks of stroke, and improving outcomes for the stroke- affected.
6. Be blood pressure aware
It is vital that everyone has their blood pressure levels tested regularly as a healthy blood pressure level is important in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. Blood pressure is a measure of the force blood exerts on the arteries as it is pumped around the body. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). There are two measures of blood pressure and the optimal level is below 120/80 mmHg:
- Systolic blood pressure - this is the pressure the blood exerts on the arteries when the heart beats
- Diastolic blood pressure - this is the pressure the blood exerts on the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats
Causes of high blood pressure
High blood pressure is often caused by lifestyle and diet factors including smoking, stress, lack of exercise and poor diet. The risk of high blood pressure increases as you get older and is also above average in minority ethnic groups, especially in African Caribbean and South-Asian communities.
Controlling blood pressure
Blood pressure can be controlled via diet and lifestyle, for example:
- Limit your salt intake - eat less than 6g of salt each day
- Stop smoking
- Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day
- Reduce your fat intake, especially saturated fat
- Drink alcohol in moderation
- Get active - aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity
- Watch your weight
7. The Stroke Foundation is New Zealand’s only organisation solely dedicated to reducing the risks of stroke, and improving outcomes for the stroke- affected.
8. St John is New Zealand's largest ambulance service and a significant provider of community services.
Stroke Foundation: “Reducing risk – improving outcomes”. www.stroke.org.nz
Back to Top Click Here for a Printer Friendly Page