Reduce your risk of a stroke

When it comes to our chance of having a stroke, the vast majority of Canadians wager that the odds are stacked against us. According to a new national survey, over 95 per cent of Canadians believe that stroke can happen to anyone. Canadians say there is nothing they can do to prevent a stroke from happening. What's more, almost one-third of those surveyed believe that having a stroke is largely out of their control and about one quarter of Canadians think that having a stroke is simply luck of the draw.

Health experts, such as Dr. Alan Bell, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto say that there is good news and contrary to popular belief, steps can be taken to control and help reduce the risk of stroke - especially the most common kind, known as ischemic stroke.

The Health RRSP (Reduce the Risk of Stroke Plan) - makes it easy for Canadians to invest in the future of their health and the health of their loved ones.

"With stroke, you never know when it will happen, but for many, you can take steps to help prevent it now," says Dr. Alan Bell. "With a retirement fund, you invest today to enjoy your later years with family and friends. Similarly, the Health RRSP encourages people to take action now to keep them healthy and help prevent a potential stroke, so they can be healthy later in life."

To invest in the future of your health:

LEARN - Go to StrokeAndAF.ca to learn more about atrial fibrillation (AF) - a serious heart condition that increases the risk of stroke. While on the site, register your loved one to the Health RRSP by sending them a calendar notice reminding them to speak with their doctor about their risk of stroke and then share the information with your network. For every person registered, a $5 donation will be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, to a maximum of $10,000.

TALK - Be sure your loved ones talk to their doctor about their risk of AF and its link to stroke.

ACT - Make sure you and your loved ones take action to reduce your risks of stroke, especially ischemic stroke.