<p style="text-align: justify;">Did you know that stroke is one of the nation’s biggest killers ?</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Incredibly, there is one stroke in Australia every ten minutes, which is more than 50,000 new and recurrent strokes a year, according to Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Shockingly, many of these strokes may be prevented.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Well, it’s time to take action and you can do that by getting behind the National Stroke Foundation and Priceline Pharmacy’s Australia’s Biggest Blood Pressure Check, which launches today.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Local residents are being urged to take action and get their blood pressure checked by joining in with celebrities, stroke survivors, Olympians and health professionals.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The aim is to deliver 50,000 free blood pressure checks around the country and raise vital awareness of the risks associated with stroke.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">This month, free checks are being provided at hundreds of locations across Australia including Priceline Pharmacy stores, selected Westfield shopping centers and <a href="https://strokefoundation.com.au/about-stroke/preventing-stroke/pharmacy-finder">Know your Numbers sites</a> in Queensland. And to find your nearest site visit <a href="https://strokefoundation.com.au/">www.strokefoundation.com.au</a></p> [caption id="attachment_75803" align="aligncenter" width="487"]<a href="https://womenlove.health/news/latest-news/chris-baths-open-letter-to-the-pm/"><img class="wp-image-75803 " src="https://womenlove.health/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-Shot-2016-04-08-at-11.38.56-AM-4.png" alt="Chris Bath’s Open Letter To The PM" width="487" height="289" /></a> <strong>Click here</strong> to read Chris Bath’s Open Letter To The PM calling for a government-led National Stroke Awareness campaign.[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;">Stroke advocate and media personality Chris Bath urges people to take advantage of the free checks and be aware of their stroke risk.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Chris witnessed first-hand stroke’s devastating impact after her father Don was struck down by the terrible disease. Here she tells why action is needed now:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">“Like so many, I didn’t know much about stroke until I was directly impacted.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">I was stunned to find out how many strokes were preventable and that doing something as simple as managing your blood pressure could seriously reduce your risk of this debilitating disease.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Stroke is one of this country’s biggest killers and a leading cause of disability – it strikes down thousands of Australians each year. But it doesn’t have to be this way.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Apart from the usual healthy lifestyle choices we all should make, the best way to guard against stroke is by having simple, regular blood pressure checks.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Let’s take the pressure down this month and raise awareness of the link between high blood pressure and stroke. Take advantage of a free, quick and simple check anytime this month at an Australia’s Biggest Blood Pressure Check site near you."</p> [caption id="attachment_75775" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-75775 size-full" src="https://womenlove.health/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-Shot-2016-04-08-at-9.17.26-AM.png" alt="Fight stroke" width="750" height="440" /> Fight stroke and get your blood pressure checked at Priceline[/caption]
