World Stroke Day was marked on October 29 to spread awareness on preventing, detecting early and treating stroke. The World Stroke Organization (WSO) set up the day in 2006, and its 2026 campaign message is “Every M1nute Counts” with the hashtag #ActFAST. A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked (ischaemic stroke) or when a burst blood vessel causes bleeding (haemorrhagic stroke). Over 12 million people worldwide suffer a stroke each year, and India sees an estimated 108–172 cases per 1 lakh people annually. Key risk factors are high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, heart disease and lack of physical activity; prompt medical care can limit complications.
