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Wat is belangrijker geld of gezondheid?*
Heel wat mensen vinden geld veel belangrijker dan hun gezondheid zo blijkt uit een onderzoek door de Engelse Stroke Association. Op de vraag wat men zou doen als men zijn bankkaart kwijt is zegt 88% dat zij (87%)/hij (89%) onmiddellijk actie onderneemt en binnen 24 uur heeft iedereen op 2% na zijn bank gecontacteerd. Op de vraag wat men zou doen bij duidelijke signalen van een beroerte (plotselinge gevoelloosheid in gezicht en/of arm en spraakproblemen) neemt slechts 64% van de mensen (69% van de vrouwen en 59% van de mannen) onmiddellijk actie. 28% wacht eerst 1 dag af, 8% wacht nog langer of doet niets. 
Public More Concerned With Their Wealth Than Health, New Survey Finds, UK
The results of a new survey issued by The Stroke Association shows that people are more concerned for their wealth than the health of their brain. 
Conducted by GfK NOP, the survey found that the prospect of losing a bank card would prompt an immediate reaction from most respondents (88%) whereas when asked what someone should do if they experienced the symptoms of a stroke - which causes immediate brain damage - one third of people would wait up to 24 hours or more before taking action. 
It was the 45 - 54 year olds that were most aware of what they should do in the event of a stroke with the 16-24's and 65+ age groups least likely to take immediate action. Yet 25% of all strokes will happen to those under 65. 
Women were more aware of the risk of the symptoms of stroke - 69% of women said call 999 immediately on experiencing the symptoms of stroke - in comparison to just 59% of men. However 87% of women and 89% of men would get in touch with their bank straight away if they lost their bank card. 
The charity believes that this is because the general public are still not aware of the devastating impact of stroke - the UK's third biggest killer. A stroke is a brain attack which, tragically, can strike without warning and leave sufferers paralysed, blind or unable to speak. Only 33% of the public realised that a stroke causes immediate brain damage. 
This lack of awareness was further underpinned recently in a survey that showed that people believed they were more at risk of being mugged than having a stroke. Yet official figures show that whilst a mugging occurs up to every 13 minutes, someone has a stroke every five minutes. 
Joe Korner, Director of Communications at The Stroke Association comments: These results highlight how stroke continues to be misunderstood by the public and is way down on their agenda. People simply do not realise the devastation that a stroke can cause or that it can be prevented. To tackle this, The Stroke Association has launched an advertising campaign - Leading the fight against brain attacks - to highlight this life-changing condition and the need for increased funding into stroke research". 
When asked how much funding went into stroke research, respondents were also wildly off the mark. Latest figures show that annual charity research funding into stroke was just £2.6 million, yet just under half of people questioned believed funding to be more than 10 million whilst a quarter did not have any idea. 11% of men thought that funding exceeded £50 million. 
Professor Joanna Wardlaw is a leading stroke researcher: "Many of the really important advances in stroke care that are now in clinical practice all over the world, have come from doctors, nurses, other therapists and scientists in the UK. 
"Stroke is an underfunded area but this research is vital for improving outcomes for stroke survivors. Donating funds for stroke research and encouraging hospitals and patients to participate in stroke trials is crucial for the future of stroke care - not only in the UK but across the world." 
Joe Korner concludes; "The Stroke Association leads the fight against brain attacks by supporting stroke survivors and funding vital research. This research has saved lives. But we need your help to do much more." 
1. *Charity research funding in the United Kingdom in the financial year 2000 -2001. Stroke - 2.6 million, Coronary heart Disease - £43 million (Source: National Audit Office Report Nov 2005) 
2. Survey Results
2001 adults aged 16+ were interviewed across the UK on the GfK NOP Telebus during the weekends of 22nd-24th June and 29th June - 1st July 2007. Weighting was applied to the data to bring it in line with national profiles
Breakdown of the national survey results. 
1) Which do you think can cause immediate brain damage? 
Recreational Drugs - 42%
Listening to loud music - 5%
Diabetes - 1%
Stroke - 33%
Cancer - 5%
Migraines - 2%
None of these - 3%
Don't know - 7%
2) If someone started experiencing one or more of the following symptoms: facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, what should they do? 
Call 999 immediately - 64%
Wait to see how the symptoms developed and contact their GP within 24 hours - 28%
Call their GP within 3 days if symptoms persist - 4%
Call their GP within 1 week if symptoms persist - 1%
Call their GP within 1 month if symptoms persist -
Would do nothing - 1%
Don't know - 2%
3) How much research funding do you think is invested annually into stroke research? 
Less than £10 million - 28%
Between £10 - £20 million - 24%
Between £20 - £30 million - 9%
Between £30 - £40 million - 3%
Between £40 - £50 million - 2%
More than £50 million - 7%
Don't know - 28%
4) If you lost your cash point card, when would you contact the bank? 
Immediately - 88%
Within 24 hours - 6%
Within 3 days - 1%
Within 1 week -
Within 1 month -
Wouldn't bother - 1%
Don't have a cash point card - 4%
Don't know -
3. The Stroke Association is the only UK charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. The charity funds research into prevention, treatment, better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services which include communications support, family and carer support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. The Stroke Association also campaigns, educates and informs to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society acting as a voice for everyone affected by stroke. 
4. A stroke is a brain attack which causes brain damage. A stroke can be diagnosed by using FAST - Facial weakness, Arm weakness, Speech problems, Test all three. If any of these symptoms are present call an ambulance straight away. 
6. More information on The Stroke Association can be found at http://www.stroke.org.uk  (Augustus 2007)

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