Cholesterol

Long-standing, untreated high blood pressure places a strain on the artery walls increasing their risk of bursting and subsequent bleeding.

"Stroke is the most preventable of all life threatening health problem," said Dr Chua.

People with high blood pressure, heart disease, high Kuala Lumpur Hospital Medicine department head Datuk Dr S.

Jeyaindran warned that smoking increases the risk of stroke twofold.

"I have advised my patients to kick smoking and to regularly check for hypertension," he said.

"It’s important those with hypertension take their medication regularly and also increase their dose, upon consultation, if their blood pressure is high." Having high blood pressure increases stroke risk four to six times.

To create awareness on stroke, its prevention, warning signs and rehabilitation, Nasam has published a book, Understanding Stroke, in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin.

It is available free of charge at all Nasam centres in the country.

The effects of a stroke attack are many.

Poor co-ordination, abnormal posture, loss of movement or abnormal movement patterns on one side of the body, loss of speech or difficulty in talking, incontinence, partial loss...

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