World Stroke Day

Intro – World Stroke Day

The probability is high that you have a member of the family or a friend who died of a stroke. The World Stroke Day campaign is to create stroke awareness and to motivate us all to get involved in daily exercise.

Approximately 7 million people die from stroke each year, making it the second leading cause of death worldwide. The World Stroke Organization reports that over 12 million people suffer a stroke annually, with about 7.3 million of those resulting in death. 

The World Stroke Day 2025 brings an urgent message through its theme “Every Minute Counts,” emphasizing how timely action can save lives and improve recovery.

What do Physical Activity and Strokes Have in Common?

The theme, “#GreaterThanStroke Active Challenge,” highlights the power of sports to raise awareness about stroke prevention and rehabilitation, engaging people from all walks of life.

Brisk Walking – Health Benefits >

Organizations around the world are encouraging people to get active every day. On October 29, World Stroke Day is highlights physical activity. It’s a way to bring attention to strokes and to encourage people to develop habits that can prevent strokes. Strokes happen when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. People can reduce their risk of stroke by adopting the following healthy habits.

• Eating a healthy diet
• Avoid smoking
• Limiting the amount of alcohol that you drink
• Exercise regularly
• Watch your weight

Other risk factors can increase your risk for a stroke. Work with your doctor to manage or treat your health conditions.

• Test your cholesterol levels
• Watch your blood pressure
• If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar levels
• Take your medicine for the health conditions mentioned.

While good habits can help, there are other risk factors that are beyond your control. Your age, sex and ethnic background can be factors. You can learn more by visiting The Virginia Department of Health stroke website. Also, check out the statewide program called Stroke Smart Virginia. It teaches people and businesses how to recognize and immediately respond to a stroke.

Fast Facts – World Stroke Day

• Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Every 3 minutes and 11 seconds, someone dies of stroke in the United States. Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes.
• About 185,000 strokes—nearly 1 in 4—are in people who have had a previous stroke.
• About 87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked.
• Stroke-related costs in the United States came to nearly $56.2 billion between 2019 and 2020. Costs include the cost of health care services, medicines to treat stroke, and missed days of work.
• Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.
• Stroke reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors age 65 and older.

Stroke Statistics by Race and Ethnicity

• Stroke is a leading cause of death for Americans.
• The risk of having a stroke varies with race and ethnicity.
• Risk of having a first stroke is nearly twice as high for non-Hispanic Black adults as for White adults.
• Non-Hispanic Black adults and Pacific Islander adults have the highest rates of death from stroke.

Stroke risk varies by age

• Stroke risk increases with age, but strokes can—and do—occur at any age.
• In 2014, 38% of people hospitalized for stroke were less than 65 years old.

Early Action is Important for Stroke

Know the warning signs and symptoms of stroke so that you can act fast if you or someone you know might be having a stroke. The chances of survival are greater when emergency treatment begins quickly.

• In one survey, 93% of respondents recognized sudden numbness on one side as a symptom of stroke.
• Only 38% were aware of all major symptoms and knew to call 9-1-1 when someone was having a stroke.
• Patients who arrive at the emergency room within 3 hours of their first symptoms often have less disability 3 months after a stroke than those who receive delayed care.