Stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without blood, brain cells can be damaged or die. Depending on which part of the brain is affected and how quickly the person is treated, the effects of stroke on survivors can be devastating to a person’s body, mobility and speech, as well as how they think and feel.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability globally. It can happen to anyone at any age, and impacts everyone: survivors, family and friends, workplaces and communities. From making individual changes, to advocating globally and locally for policies that will deliver healthier communities, we can all do something to prevent stroke.


World Stroke Day - October 29th provides an annual opportunity for stroke stakeholders to coordinate awareness and advocacy campaigns and build commitment to reducing the burden of stroke at global, regional and local level.
By creating a global platform from which we can speak out, World Stroke Day amplifies our individual voices and brings more people into the conversation about stroke prevention treatment and support.

Do you Know?
17 Million Strokes
6.5 Million Death
26 Million Survivours
One in Six will Experience Stroke in our Lifetime
90% of Strokes are linked to 10 risks we can all do something about


How to reduce your risk of stroke
Did you know that 90% of strokes are linked to 10 avoidable risks? If you have diabetes, heart problems or history of stroke/TIA talk to your doctor about stroke risk and preventive treatments.
1. Control high blood pressure
2. Do moderate exercise 5 times a week
3. Eat a healthy, balanced diet (high in fruit/vegetables, low in sodium)
4. Reduce your cholesterol
5. Maintain a healthy BMI or waist to hip ratio
6. Stop smoking and avoid second-hand exposure
7. Reduce alcohol intake (men: 2/day, women: 1/day)
8. Identify and treat atrial fibrillation
9. Reduce your risk from diabetes, talk to your doctor
10. Get educated about stroke


What’s your reason for preventing stroke?
90% of all strokes are linked to 10 key risk factors
1 in 6 of us will suffer a stroke in our lifetime
We all have good reasons to prevent stroke
This year the World Stroke Day campaign is focused on risk awareness and prevention. We are calling on everyone – individuals, families, communities, health professionals and governments – to raise awareness of key stroke risks and take action to prevent stroke.
What you can do
You can use World Stroke Day as a focal point for local prevention campaigns. Think about ways in which you can:
provide evidence-based information about stroke risk in your country/locality
advocate for population based approaches to prevention
help individuals to assess their stroke risk factors, such as blood pressure checks, referral to the Stroke Riskometer
develop or share existing information about lifestyle change and provide signposts to local advice and support services
Let's put World Stroke Day on the map

Stroke Affects Everyone—We all have a Reason to Prevent it…….