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13/08/2009
Focus On Deprived, Says Health Charity
Those most at risk of stroke are often also the worst off financially.
On foot of a survey which shows that men in deprived areas are more than three times more likely to die of stroke than men in the wealthiest areas, there has been a call to focus resources on this group.
Andrew Dougal, Chief Executive of NI Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS), said: "This shows that the Health Service must skew its resources, its energy and its focus to ensure that people on lower incomes do access both preventative and treatment measures.
"NICHS has just launched a health promotion drive in two such areas – one with the Ardoyne/Shankill Health Partnership and the other in the Connswater area, East Belfast," said the senior executive, (pictured).
"Many individuals who were screened at the Connswater Shopping Centre have been found to have seriously high levels of blood pressure.
"They have been referred to the GP for urgent treatment," said Mr Dougal.
"Blood pressure often has no symptoms whatsoever and it can go completely undetected for years," he continued.
"With the advent of the new Stroke Strategy from the Department of Health it is hoped that much can be achieved.
"However, planners must ensure that the most deprived areas are given a priority," he said, commenting on the new survey covering deprived areas in England and Wales.
"In such areas many individuals will not proactively come to the Health Centre.
"We must then bring health promotion to them in more informal settings such as community groups," he said.
"In Northern Ireland, 1,307 deaths occur each year as a result of stroke. Some 499 of these deaths are in men and 808 in women and deaths from stroke in those under-75 years of age are 149 for men and 112 for women.
"This highlights that stroke in younger men can be much more lethal," he insisted.
(BMcC/KMcA)
On foot of a survey which shows that men in deprived areas are more than three times more likely to die of stroke than men in the wealthiest areas, there has been a call to focus resources on this group.
Andrew Dougal, Chief Executive of NI Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS), said: "This shows that the Health Service must skew its resources, its energy and its focus to ensure that people on lower incomes do access both preventative and treatment measures.
"NICHS has just launched a health promotion drive in two such areas – one with the Ardoyne/Shankill Health Partnership and the other in the Connswater area, East Belfast," said the senior executive, (pictured).
"Many individuals who were screened at the Connswater Shopping Centre have been found to have seriously high levels of blood pressure.
"They have been referred to the GP for urgent treatment," said Mr Dougal.
"Blood pressure often has no symptoms whatsoever and it can go completely undetected for years," he continued.
"With the advent of the new Stroke Strategy from the Department of Health it is hoped that much can be achieved.
"However, planners must ensure that the most deprived areas are given a priority," he said, commenting on the new survey covering deprived areas in England and Wales.
"In such areas many individuals will not proactively come to the Health Centre.
"We must then bring health promotion to them in more informal settings such as community groups," he said.
"In Northern Ireland, 1,307 deaths occur each year as a result of stroke. Some 499 of these deaths are in men and 808 in women and deaths from stroke in those under-75 years of age are 149 for men and 112 for women.
"This highlights that stroke in younger men can be much more lethal," he insisted.
(BMcC/KMcA)
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