Millions at risk of stroke...but don't know it

MILLIONS could be at risk of a stroke without realising it due to high blood pressure, a charity has warned.

- Chris Riches

The condition is the single biggest cause of strokes in the UK, and can be a "ticking timebomb" if left undiagnosed.

Now, the Stroke Association is urging people to keep track of their blood pressure and take action to cut their risk of the potentially deadly medical emergency.

Around half of strokes are caused by high blood pressure, but a poll for the charity found that 43% of Britons did not know it is the leading risk factor.

Juliet Bouverie, CEO of the Stroke Association, said: "Around 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke every year.

Worryingly, this has been increasing over the last 20 years, particularly amongst people of working age.