Stroke Awareness Month

June is Stroke Awareness Month in Canada, a time to bring attention to stroke prevention, education, and support. 

What is a stroke? A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function caused by a blocked or ruptured blood vessel.¹ It is a leading cause of disability,² with 62,000 strokes occurring every year in Canada.³

While some risk factors such as age, sex, family history, and ethnicity cannot be controlled, 80% of strokes are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices.⁴

Here is what you can do to reduce your risk of stroke:

• Keep blood pressure under control: High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke ⁵ and often has no symptoms.⁶
• Quit smoking: Smokers have twice the risk of stroke compared to non-smokers. Quitting smoking immediately reduces your risk, and after five years, you have the same chance of having a stroke as a non-smoker.⁷
• Be physically active: Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight and lowers blood pressure.
• Eat a healthy diet: Eating fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and avoiding processed foods can reduce your risk of stroke.

Critical Illness and Disability insurance provide financial protection in the event of stroke and other serious illnesses that can suddenly and permanently impact families.

Visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation website to learn more: https://www.heartandstroke.ca

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Insurance Protection Options

Group Critical Illness Insurance

Pays a lump-sum benefit when the insured person is diagnosed with a covered condition.

Accident & Serious Illness Disability

Coverage for accidental disability and disabilities resulting from serious illnesses.

Disability Insurance                       

Available on an individual or group basis, Sutton offers broad coverage, including special hazards such as high-risk occupations and out-of-country exposures.

¹ Stroke in Canada (2022). Government of Canada
² Impact of Stroke (2024). World Stroke Organization
³ Increasing the Awareness of Stroke Among Canadian Women (2022). National Library of Medicine
⁴ Risk and prevention (2023). Heart and Stroke Foundation
⁵ Managing your blood pressure (2022). Heart and Stroke Foundation
⁶ High Blood Pressure (2024). Diabetes Canada
⁷ Smoking and tobacco (2024). Heart and Stroke Foundation