World Stroke Day takes place on Oct 29th every year. This global awareness day was established by World Stroke Organisation (WSO) and provides a global platform for the stroke community to increase awareness and drive action on stroke around the world. The first official World Stroke Day was held on October 29th, 2006.
A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. It is the largest cause of disability and the second largest cause of death globally. Around 1.8 million people in India suffer from a stroke every year
The theme of the Year
World Stroke Day 2021 - Minutes can save lives. When it comes to stroke, every minute matters. With the global lifetime risk of stroke standing at 1 in 4, it is clear that wide public awareness of symptoms is critical to the effort to save 5.5 million lives and improve outcomes for the 9 million people who survive stroke each year.
Act FAST Campaign
If you or a loved one is having any of these symptoms, it’s important to act F.A.S.T.
F = Facial Weakness
A = Arm Weakness
S = Speech difficulty
T = Time loss is brain loss. Call 911 when these symptoms are present. Don’t wait!
The theme for 2020 was 'Use Heart To Beat Cardiovascular Disease
The World Stroke Campaign's goodwill ambassadors include Indian Cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, former Miss Egypt Dalia El Behery and cyclist Alberto Contador.
Further Reading