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A high proportion of women are unaware of small changes in lifestyle that can significantly cut the risk of strokes, experts have claimed.

The Stroke Association points out stroke is the most common cause of long-term disability and is twice as likely to prove fatal to women than to men, reports the BBC.

According to the group, 60 per cent cannot recall the result of their last blood pressure reading, while two-thirds were not clear on what optimal blood pressure reading should be.

Many women could avoid stroke altogether if they monitored and controlled their blood pressure, the experts said.

Joe Korner, the association’s director of external affairs, said: "Regular, excessive drinking, smoking, poor diet and a lack of exercise mean that women are pushing their blood pressure to dangerous levels without realising it."

An estimated 150,000 people in the UK suffer a stroke every year, according to the Stroke Association.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Stroke.