1. Strokes aren’t something that just happen to old people
A quarter of the 100,000 peoplewho have a stroke every year in the UK – about one every five minutes – are of working age.
2. There are different kinds of strokes
Not all strokes are the same.
• Ischaemic strokes happen when the blood supply to the brain is stopped because of a blood clot – accounting for around 85% of strokes. • Haemorrhagic strokes happen when a blood vessel supplying the brain bursts and causes a blockage. • Transient ischaemic Attacks (also called TIAs or mini-strokes) happen where the blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted.
With a TIA, symptoms can last from a few minutes to a few hours, but must be treated as urgent medical events. They can be a warning sign of a bigger stroke in the near future.
3. Strokes are the leading cause of disability in the UK
Having a stroke is the leading cause of disability, often impacting speech, vision, learning and understanding, or creating weakness or paralysis – usually on one side of the body.
9 out of 10 stroke survivors have at least one cognitive impact of their stroke, and many will experience fatigue, anxiety, and problems with memory or concentration.
According to NICE, 90 days after a stroke, 10% of younger adults and 30% of those aged over 65 years will have a new stroke-related disability of at least moderate severity. Haemorrhagic strokes can be particularly hard to recover from. 6 months after having one, up to 40% of people still experience difficulty with activities of daily living.
Clearly all of this has an impact on work. After a stroke, around 15% of people have to reduce their working hours, and many more will need adjustments to their role or duties. As a result, 37% experience a loss of income.
4. Awareness saves lives
When it comes to a stroke, awareness really can save lives, because the faster you act to get help the less damage is going to happen. It’s why the NHS and other stroke charities push the FAST stroke symptom rules:
F – Face – the face may drop on one side, or the person may not be able to smile. Look out for a drooping eye or mouth.
A – Arms – someone with a suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them in the air.
S – Speech – their speech may be slurred or mixed up. Some people might not be able to talk at all, although they appear to be conscious, and they may not be able to process what you say to them.
T – Time – if any of those symptoms are present, for any length of time, call 999 immediately and tell them you suspect a stroke.
There are great resources like these from the government and the Stroke Association including things like posters and leaflets to help you raise awareness of stroke risk around your buildings and worksites.
5. Bluecrest data can help you identify the stroke risk in your business
You can’t tell who’s at risk of a stroke by looking at people, but there are factors that do contribute to someone’s risk. They include • High blood pressure • High cholesterol • Irregular heartbeat • Diabetes
These are all levels which are checked by our Health Assessment Specialists as part of a Bluecrest Wellness Health Assessment. When 60 or more people go for their assessment, the data can be aggregated and anonymised, and your report will break down the results for each of these risk factors.
It means you can see your stroke risk as an organisation, and target health and wellbeing initiatives accordingly.
6. Bluecrest tests can help you manage the stroke risk in your business
Even without specific campaigns or initiatives to improve cholesterol, lower stress or reduce diabetes risk, just having Bluecrest Wellness as part of your health and wellbeing support is already reducing your stroke risk.
We know that because when individuals get their results, they take independent action to improve their health. 40% resolve to lose weight, 37% to exercise more, 33% to eat better, and 15% to drink less alcohol. These findings highlight the transformative impact of providing employee health benefits, which can inspire individuals to make healthier choices.
