THE Stroke Association issued a stark warning to people in the North West - ignore your blood pressure and put your life at risk.

High blood pressure is the main risk factor for stroke - but the Association has revealed that the North West is one of the worst informed regions on how to tackle it.

Six in ten people polled did not know they could tackle blood pressure through eating healthily and seven in ten did not know exercise could help.

The MORI poll of 2,000 people also revealed that only one in four people recognised the merits of taking a break, 16 per cent recognised smoking less helped and nine per cent were aware that medication was available to tackle more serious cases to control blood pressure.

The Stroke Association's Eoin Redahan said: "Controlling blood pressure could prevent four out of ten deaths from this devastating condition.

"Obviously from these results we will have to work hard to increase knowledge of what people can do on a day-to-day basis to reduce risks.

"We want people to have regular blood pressure checks - that's why in Stroke Awareness Week the charity is aiming for 100,000 blood pressure checks at venues across England and Wales."

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