A SIMPLE five-minute check could save your life.
The Stroke Foundation is urging everyone to have a blood pressure check as part of today's World Hypertension Day.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the leading modifiable risk factor for stroke and the most preventable cause of stroke worldwide.
Stroke kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer, yet it is largely preventable. More than 56,000 strokes will be suffered by residents in Australia this year.
Despite the risks, most people don't realise they have high blood pressure. In fact, 82 per cent of people diagnosed had no idea.
High blood pressure sufferers can show no symptoms and the only way to know your blood pressure is to have it checked.
Major contributors to high blood pressure include:
- A family history of high blood pressure.
- Age (blood pressure can increase with age)
- Gender (men are more likely to have high blood pressure than women)
- Being overweight
- Excessive alcohol drinking
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Lack of exercise
- High salt intake
