The World Stroke Organization (WSO) states that one in four adults will experience a stroke in their lifetime, and this is why the official World Stroke Day on October 29 aims to raise awareness about the ailment worldwide.
In simple words, a stroke happens when the blood supply to your brain is cut off, resulting in temporary or permanent damage to your brain cells.
A person can recover from a stroke, but those who do not recover either suffer from one disability or more or, in the worst case scenario, they die.
World Stroke Day reinforces the idea of stroke being preventable.
One of the best things we can do to reduce our chances of getting a stroke is becoming physically active.
Exercising regularly and eating or drinking right will help us not to be part of the one-in-four statistic.
Stroke is the number one cause of disabilities, and it is also the second-highest reason behind people dying from a disease.
The WSO celebrated the first World Stroke Day in 2006. The organization came into being the same year after the merger of the International Stroke Society (ISS) and the World Stroke Federation (WSF). The WSO is a non-profit agency that works to raise awareness about strokes and help stroke survivors in getting back to their lives.
In their own words, the WSO’s mission is to “promote research and teaching in this area that will improve the care of stroke victims throughout the world”. In this way, the organization is also committed to recognizing and appreciating the efforts of all those medical and nonmedical professionals who have committed to reducing the stroke rate worldwide.
The WSO also hosts a biennial congress workshop where, to date, more than 2400 participants have learned important skill sets. In order to reach a wider audience, the organization has set up an e-learning platform called the World Stroke Academy.
Every year, there’s a special theme surrounding October 29. Previous years’ themes include “Little Strokes, Big Troubles” (2008), “Because I Care” (2013), and “Up Again After Stroke” (2018).
A stroke takes place when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, either totally or partially. Because brain cells require oxygen and nutrients constantly, if the blood supply is not restored on time, the cells will start dying. This is why it is extremely important to get the patient to receive treatment as soon as you suspect stroke symptoms.
The following are some tell-tale signs of a stroke: loss of movement, feeling, and/or vision on one side of the body, combined with dizziness, confusion, and difficulty in speaking.
People who smoke, have high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity are at a higher risk of suffering from a stroke. You can prevent a stroke from happening by quitting tobacco consumption, eating or drinking healthy, exercising, and taking good care of your heart.
