Minister welcomes Blood Pressure Awareness Week
Hon Ruth Dyson
Minister for Social Development &
Employment
10 September 2008 Media Statement
Minister welcomes Blood Pressure Awareness Week
"Strokes are the most common cause of adult impairment in New Zealand with over 57,000 people having suffered a stroke," said Ruth Dyson, Minister for Social Development & Employment.
"Blood Pressure Awareness week aims to raise the level of awareness and encourage New Zealanders to take positive action and reduce the possibility of having a stroke," said Ms Dyson.
• 1 in 10 adults over 75 years
old have had a stroke.
• The prevalence increases with
age.
• There are a number of risk factors for stroke
and many of these are manageable. Smoking and diabetes
increases risk, as does diets. A high salt and fat intake,
low levels of physical exercise and excess alcohol all
contribute to increased risk of stroke and they are all
modifiable.
• High blood pressure is a major risk
factor for strokes.
The Government is currently
undertaking a range of positive actions to prevent strokes
through a number of programmes such as;
• Green
prescriptions, which encourage health professionals to
provide written advice to a patient to be physically
active.
• Healthy Eating, Healthy Action provides a
strategic approach to improving nutrition and increasing
physical activity.
• Tobacco control continues work to
achieve three key objectives: reducing smoking initiation,
increase quitting and reducing exposure to second-hand
smoke.
"The benefits of managing high blood pressure are significant. Reducing blood pressure reduces the risk of stokes and Blood Pressure Awareness Week will raise public awareness," said Ms Dyson.
ENDS