Crawley residents offered potentially life-saving health check as award-winning health initiative hits the town
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Crawley residents offered potentially life-saving health
check as award-winning health initiative hits the town
Vision Express customers urged to have regular blood pressure checks as the UK
marks the end of Make May Purple for Stroke
Stroke risk for people in Crawley
has been highlighted at a local
blood pressure drop-in, as the
Stroke Association’s national
awareness month, Make May
Purple for Stroke, comes to an end.
Hosted at Vision Express’ store in
Vision Express Crawley store manager Shabana Hussain the County Mall shopping centre,
with customer Corina Raymond having her blood pressure
tested by Lisa Burstow, Family and Carer Support the Know Your Blood Pressure
Coordinator at the Stroke Association event was the latest in a series of
nationwide events held by the national retailer, as part of an award-winning
partnership with the Stroke Association. The drop-ins aim to highlight high blood
pressure – also known as hypertension, as a contributing factor in around half1 of all
strokes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
During the event, customers and members of the public were offered free blood
pressure checks by a representative from the Stroke Association, with those
presenting high readings advised to seek further medical attention.
Shabana Hussain, store manager at the Crawley optician, was eager to host the free
health drop-in or eventin a bid to encourage local people to have regular blood
pressure checks, after both her grandparents had strokes, resulting in lasting health
1
Stroke Association ‘State of the Nation’ report, January 2016
impacts. “My grandad had a
stroke before I was born and
he experienced a loss of
movement and speech
difficulties, before passing
away from a second stroke,”
she explained.
Vision Express customer having blood pressure tested “A year and a half ago, my
grandma had a stroke. She
was once an active and independent woman but she had high blood pressure and
was on medication. After her stroke, she experienced loss of movement and speech
difficulties, just like my grandad, and was in hospital for three months.”
Through treatment, Shabana’s grandma recovered her speech but still has
difficulties with movement and needs assistance. Now, Shabana’s dad is very health
conscious and has his own blood pressure machine at home. “As a family, we try to
stay as healthy as possible, and keep an eye on how much fatty and oily foods we
are eating,” Shabana added.
National statistics show there are almost 1,8002 stroke survivors within the NHS
Crawley CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group), a figure that represents 1.36%3 of the
local population.
The Stroke Association’s Lisa Burstow was on hand to carry out the potentially life-
saving test at the Crawley store during the Know Your Blood Pressure event. The
mum of two, has worked for the charity as a Family and Carer Support Coordinator
for the South East for the past nine years, following her father-in-law’s stroke 20
years ago.
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http://www.hscic.gov.uk/article/2021/Website-Search?productid=19196&q=qof+2014-
15&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1&area=both#top
3
http://www.hscic.gov.uk/article/2021/Website-Search?productid=19196&q=qof+2014-
15&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1&area=both#top
One of those tested was local resident, Gregory Field, who was visiting the store to
collect his contact lenses. He said: “It was a really simple and quick procedure and I
got some really useful information on how to prevent potential strokes.”
Vision Express customer, Corina
Raymond, was visiting her local store
to have an eye test, after
experiencing headaches, and
decided to get her blood pressure
checked while she was there. Like
Shabana, Corina knows the
importance of keeping up with health
Vision Express Crawley store team with Stroke checks due to her family history. “My
Association representative Lisa Burstow (centre)
uncle had a stroke some years ago
and I think it had a knock-on effect,” she said. “It doesn’t hurt to have your blood
pressure checked so everyone should get it done.”
Vision Express forged its partnership with the Stroke Association to educate
customers about stroke and its impact on sight. Up to 60% of people that have had a
stroke will experience visual problems, yet one in three are not warned that sight loss
could be a problem - or that treatment and support is available. Over half of strokes
can be caused by high blood pressure, meaning having the simple check is crucial. It
is also possible to identify whether someone has high blood pressure during an eye
test.
Every year, 9.5 million people, or one in seven, in the UK are diagnosed with high
blood pressure. For every 10 people diagnosed, seven remain undiagnosed and
untreated – accounting for more than 5.5 million people in England alone.
Uncontrolled blood pressure can, over time, lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure,
kidney damage and eye problems. Although there are a greater number of strokerelated deaths in women (23,000 in the UK in 20154 alone), men are at higher risk of
having a stroke at a younger age.
Becky Beard, Community and Events Fundraising Manager at the Stroke
Association, said: “A simple and painless test could prevent a devastating stroke.
Too few people are aware just how serious stroke is – it is the UK’s fourth biggest
killer, and the second largest cause of death in the world.
“It’s vital that everyone knows what their blood pressure level should be and has
regular checks.”
Did you know?
• There are over 1.2 million people affected by stroke in the UK
• The average age of stroke has decreased in recent years. People are now
most likely to have a stroke over the age of 55
• Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer and twice as many men
than prostate and testicular cancer combined, each year
• Up to 60% of people will experience visual problems following a stroke, yet
one in three are unaware that sight loss could be a problem or that treatment
and support is available
• For every stroke avoided the NHS saves £23,000, not including the vast
social care costs and the effect on the economy from people needing to stop
work.
‘Know Your Blood Pressure’ events are taking place at selected Vision Express
stores nationwide throughout 2017, visit http://www.visionexpress.com/know-your-
blood-pressure/.
Vision Express offers an eye test to best practice guidelines of the College of
Optometrists (COO), with each Vision Express optometrist being a qualified eye
health professional. To book an eye test at the Crawley store call 01293 618686,
4
Stroke Association ‘State of the Nation’ report, January 2016visit Unit 20, County Mall, Crawley RH10 1FF or make an online enquiry at: www.visionexpress.com/book-eye-test/ -ENDS- For more information please contact: The Tonic Communications: Tel: 0115 853 2198 Email: visionexpress@thetoniccomms.co.uk About Vision Express Vision Express is one of the largest optical retailers in the UK and part of GrandVision, the global leader in optical retail operating in more than 40 countries, spanning over 6,500 stores and online. With more than 390 stores nationwide, Vision Express first opened its doors in Newcastle in 1988. Built on a passion for the profession, it has gone from strength to strength, driven by a commitment to unparalleled customer service and providing the best individual optical care, the right product and great value. Customers can select from a vast range of genuine designer brands and the latest technology lenses, through to complete glasses from £39. With around 4,500 employees, Vision Express makes a significant difference to the communities it operates within, and the organisations it chooses to support. As part of its commitment to Vision. Taken Seriously, and as a responsible and caring retailer, Vision Express is proud to partner with a range of healthcare charities, which have touched the lives of customers and teams. These companies provide vital support to people affected by vision-related conditions. They are part of the Vision Express Charity Project and include: • Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) • International Glaucoma Association • Macular Society • Stroke Association • Temple Street University Hospital • Brake About the Stroke Association A stroke is a brain attack which happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain. There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year; that is around one stroke every five minutes. There are over 1.2 million people in the UK living with the effects of stroke. Stroke Association is a charity. We believe in life after stroke and together we can conquer stroke. We work directly with stroke survivors and their families and carers, with health and social care professionals and with scientists and researchers. We campaign to improve stroke care and support people to make the best recovery they can. We fund research to develop new treatments and ways of preventing stroke. The Stroke Helpline (0303 303 3100) provides information and support on stroke. More information can be found at www.stroke.org.uk Notes to editor A stroke is a brain attack which happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain. There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year; that is around
one stroke every five minutes. There are over 1.2 million people in the UK living with the effects of stroke. Stroke Association is a charity. We believe in life after stroke and together we can conquer stroke. We work directly with stroke survivors and their families and carers, with health and social care professionals and with scientists and researchers. We campaign to improve stroke care and support people to make the best recovery they can. We fund research to develop new treatments and ways of preventing stroke. The Stroke Helpline (0303 303 3100) provides information and support on stroke. More information can be found at www.stroke.org.uk
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