WANT to do one simple thing for your health in 2018 that could just save your life?
If the answer is yes, then the Stroke Foundation urges you to have your blood pressure checked.
High blood pressure is a key risk factor for stroke and one that can be managed.
"Stroke is a devastating disease that will impact one in six of us," a foundation spokeswoman said.
"There is one stroke every nine minutes in Australia.
"Stroke attacks the human control centre - the brain - it happens in an instant and changes lives forever."
It is estimated there will be more than 56,000 strokes in Australia this year ... stroke will kill more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer.
But the good news is that up to 80 per cent of strokes are preventable, and research has shown the number of strokes would be practically cut in half (48 per cent) if high blood pressure alone was eliminated.
About 4.1 million of us have high blood pressure and don't realise it.
High blood pressure has no symptoms - the only way to know if it is a health issue for you is to have it checked by your doctor or pharmacist.