A fifth of women feel their stress levels are out of control, double the number of men, researchers claim.
About one in seven Britons feels under extreme stress, a survey suggests.
Experts say stress raises blood pressure, putting people at greater risk of stroke. A poor diet and lack of exercise also contribute to the chances of suffering a stroke.
Stroke is the third most common cause of death in England and Wales after heart disease and cancer, killing more than 67,000 people every year.
About 150,000 people each year suffer a stroke.
Almost one in five women and one in 10 men feel their stress levels are out of control, according to the poll of 2,000 people.
The survey, by the Stroke Association and the engineering company Siemens, found almost a fifth of people said they took no exercise.
A similar number said they exercised for 30 minutes once a week.
More than a quarter of people aged 45 to 54 said they never exercised, despite suffering the highest stress levels.
Almost half said they were under more than "moderate stress".
Overall, 40 per cent of those surveyed said they were unaware of the link between exercise and lowering the risk of stroke.
James Beeby, of the Stroke Association, said: "The research is incredibly worrying and emphasises the need for people to be aware of the dangers of stroke.
"It's imperative that people take regular exercise and modify their diet to reduce the risk of suffering a stroke."
Siemens sponsors the British rowing team and provides some funding for the Stroke Association's Stroke for Stroke campaign.
Andreas Goss, the chief executive of Siemens in the UK, said: "Contrary to popular belief, stroke can affect people of any age."
www.telegraph.co.uk
A similar number said they exercised for 30 minutes once a week.
More than a quarter of people aged 45 to 54 said they never exercised, despite suffering the highest stress levels.
Almost half said they were under more than "moderate stress".
Overall, 40 per cent of those surveyed said they were unaware of the link between exercise and lowering the risk of stroke.
James Beeby, of the Stroke Association, said: "The research is incredibly worrying and emphasises the need for people to be aware of the dangers of stroke.
"It's imperative that people take regular exercise and modify their diet to reduce the risk of suffering a stroke."
Siemens sponsors the British rowing team and provides some funding for the Stroke Association's Stroke for Stroke campaign.
Andreas Goss, the chief executive of Siemens in the UK, said: "Contrary to popular belief, stroke can affect people of any age."
www.telegraph.co.uk
