Business leaders in Manchester are being urged to beware of the health risks associated with a stressful lifestyle, as Nuffield Health launches a new clinic in the city centre to help identify and reduce the risk of business leaders having a stroke.
Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide, and data* from the Stroke Association shows that there are more than 50,000 stroke survivors in Greater Manchester (56,565).
Business leaders in particular are being urged to take proactive action to limit the risk amongst colleagues in the workplace. Along with the conventional risk factors of high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, stress is being considered as a leading trigger for stroke and heart disease.
Nuffield Health has launched the new clinic at Citylabs, the Bruntwood development, on Nelson Street in Manchester to help people identify and mitigate the risks of strokes.
Dr Dwaipayan Sen, a senior consultant at Nuffield Health’s Manchester Diagnostic Suite, explained some of the issues that can affect business leaders:
“Stress is becoming an increasingly important issue in the workplace. It limits our ability to think clearly. When we are stressed our ‘amygdala’ labels information coming into the brain as threatening and, at the same time, limits activity in the cerebral cortex, the part of our brain that allows us to think strategically.
“This is bad for business leaders as it reduces their ability to make decisions, be sociable and take on new ideas and information.
“Stress can cause imbalance in the levels of hormones and certain chemicals in the body which then causes spikes in blood pressure or heart rate. Both are leading risk factors for stroke, so it’s vital that people leading more stressful lives look after their wellbeing and get regularly screened for all the risk factors.
“For stroke survivors it is even more important to screen for all the risk factors, identify the right cause and start appropriate treatment to prevent the next one. Our clinic also offers investigations into causes of stroke for stroke survivors and advises on appropriate evidence-based treatment.”
Andrew Daly, General Manager at Nuffield Health’s Manchester Diagnostic Suite, said:
“Modern business is stressful and we know that stress can be a trigger for a stroke. We exist to build a healthier nation through our services and this proactive clinic is about providing a place in the heart of the city where busy people can come and get examined using the latest screening technology.
“We know that around 90% of strokes are attributable to 10 modifiable risk factors and our new clinic aims to reduce the incidence of stroke by focussing on these risk factors and helping people manage them and modify their lifestyles. We know that physical and mental wellbeing are intrinsically linked and this new clinic is an important addition to the support we offer across Greater Manchester.”
Nuffield Health’s Manchester Diagnostic Suite highlights the 10 modifiable risk factors:
- High blood pressure
- Lack of exercise
- Poor diet
- Obesity
- Stress
- Smoking
- Heart problems
- Alcohol
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol levels
Nuffield Health’s Manchester Diagnostic Suite also describes the five key stroke symptoms to watch out for:
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face or on one side of the body, including legs, hands or feet.
- Difficulty finding words or speaking in clear sentences.
- Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes.
- Sudden memory loss or confusion, and dizziness or a sudden fall.
- A sudden, severe headache.
The service operated by the clinic includes screening for diabetes, blood pressure, high cholesterol and thyroid status. It also provides imaging of the brain and blood vessels to detect any clot or fatty deposits in them. The stroke clinic will also arrange prolonged monitoring of a patient’s heart to ensure it is effectively screened. Patients will be advised on evidence-based treatment to modify their risk factors and reduce the risk of stroke.
