More than 2400 Wyndham residents are living with stroke and many more are at risk of having one, the latest figures show.
The National Stroke Foundation released statistics last week showing that 2471 people in the Lalor electorate, or 1146 out of every 100,000, were living with the side-effects of a stroke.
The figure is lower than state and national averages of 1886 and 1864 for every 100,000 residents respectively.
So far this year, 245 Wyndham residents have had a stroke, with slightly more men then women affected.
Alarmingly, thousands more people were putting themselves at risk of having strokes by making poor lifestyle choices.
A total of 30,326 people currently have high blood pressure, 51,456 people have high cholesterol and 90,073 don’t get enough physical activity.
National Stroke Foundation chief executive Erin Lalor said strokes were a national issue.
“Stroke kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer,” Dr Lalor said.
“This devastating disease also places significant demands on health services, families and the community across the country.”
Compared to other electorates and the national and state averages, Lalor is not considered a stroke hotspot, but Dr Lalor said more needed to be done to stop the figures increasing.
“Despite successive governments recognising stroke as a national health priority, Australia does not have a federally funded strategy or the care services to address widespread need,” she said.
“The Stroke Foundation is urging national action to tackle stroke because all Australians need and deserve access to quality stroke
care.”
Details: www.strokefoundation.com.au
