With a high proportion of the British population suffering from heightened levels of stress this year, the number of people suffering from strokes could be set to increase.

According to research from the Stroke Association, sponsored by Siemens, one in seven people say that at the start of 2011 they are feeling ''extremely stressed''.  

Studying 2,000 people across the UK, the survey found that women were the most stressed, with 20 per cent citing their stress levels as increasing dramatically. Meanwhile 10 per cent of men said that they were feeling particularly stressed.

Health professionals from those in family support jobs to frontline nursing staff and counsellors are urging people to take their stress levels seriously, as heightened anxiety can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn can increase the risk of a stroke.

Speaking to Nursing Times about the research, James Beeby, head of corporate fundraising for the Stroke Association commented: ''The research is incredibly worrying and emphasises the need for the public to be aware of the dangers of stroke.''

Mr Beeby promotes exercise and a healthy lifestyle as an important factor in mitigating stroke risk, saying in Sky News: ''It's imperative that people take regular exercise and modify their diet to reduce the risk.''

With 40 per cent of those surveyed saying that they were not aware of the relationship between stress and strokes, experts are pushing for increased awareness and promotion of healthy living plans.