The World Stroke Day is annually observed on 29th October. The global awareness day was established by WSO(World Strike Organization) and provides a global platform for the stroke community to increase awareness and drive action on stroke around the world.
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. Stroke is the number one cause of disabilities, and it is also the second-highest reason behind people dying from a disease and that's why it is a very serious issue which needs to be addressed.
| Event | World Stroke Day |
|---|---|
| Date | October 29, 2022 |
| Day | Saturday |
| Significance | The day raises awareness and encourages action on stroke all over the world. |
| Observed by | World wide |
World Stroke Day History:
Episodes of stroke and familial stroke have been reported from the 2nd millennium BC onward in ancient Mesopotamia and Persia. Hippocrates (460 to 370 BC) was first to describe the phenomenon of sudden paralysis that is often associated with ischemia. The word stroke was used as a synonym for apoplectic seizure as early as 1599, and is a fairly literal translation of the Greek term. The term apoplectic stroke is an archaic, nonspecific term, for a cerebrovascular accident accompanied by haemorrhage or haemorrhagic stroke. Martin Luther was described as having an apoplectic stroke that deprived him of his speech shortly before his death in 1546.
In 1658, in his Apoplexia, Johann Jacob Wepfer (1620–1695) identified the cause of hemorrhagic stroke when he suggested that people who had died of apoplexy had bleeding in their brains. Wepfer also identified the main arteries supplying the brain, the vertebral and carotid arteries, and identified the cause of a type of ischemic stroke known as a cerebral infarction when he suggested that apoplexy might be caused by a blockage to those vessels. The term cerebrovascular accident was introduced in 1927, reflecting a "growing awareness and acceptance of vascular theories and (...) recognition of the consequences of a sudden disruption in the vascular supply of the brain."
Stroke has been and continues to be a widespread disease worldwide, it is currently the single largest cause of disability and the second largest cause of death globally. In 2016 alone, stroke was responsible for 116 million days of life lost to death and disability. The individual lifetime risk of stroke is currently 1 in every 4 people. The idea to create a day of awareness began in the 1990s with the European Stroke Initiative. Due to financial limitations, however, the effort was limited only to Europe.
World Stroke Day was established on 29th October in 2004 at the World Stroke Congress in Vancouver, Canada. Under the direction of Dr. Vladimir Hachinski, a working group was formed, which was incorporated into a World Stroke Proclamation in October 2006..Around the same time, the International Stroke Society and the World Stroke Federation merged to form the World Stroke Organization, which took over the management of World Stroke Day and since then the event is celebrated every year.
World Stroke Day Significance:
A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functioning properly. Signs and symptoms of a stroke may include an inability to move or feel on one side of the body, problems understanding or speaking, dizziness, or loss of vision to one side. Signs and symptoms often appear soon after the stroke has occurred. occurred. If symptoms last less than one or two hours, the stroke is a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called a mini-stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke may also be associated with a severe headache.
The main risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure. Other risk factors include high blood cholesterol, tobacco smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus, a previous TIA, end-stage kidney disease, and atrial fibrillation. An ischemic stroke is typically caused by blockage of a blood vessel, though there are also less common causes. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by either bleeding directly into the brain or into the space between the brain's membranes. Bleeding may occur due to a ruptured brain aneurysm.
Prevention includes decreasing risk factors, surgery to open up the arteries to the brain in those with problematic carotid narrowing, and warfarin in people with atrial fibrillation. Aspirin or statins may be recommended by physicians for prevention. A stroke or TIA often requires emergency care. An ischemic stroke, if detected within three to four and half hours, may be treatable with a medication that can break down the clot. Some hemorrhagic strokes benefit from surgery. Treatment to attempt recovery of lost function is called stroke rehabilitation, and ideally takes place in a stroke unit; however, these are not available in much of the world.
Strokes can be very dangerous if not prevented or left untreated within certain time. Even a slight delay in getting the right treatment can result in catastrophic changes to a person's life. Such changes, which would usually impact their socio-economic situations, will also have an impact on their families. Thus, it is important to learn about strokes and ways we could stop them from happening. Hence this day plays a very important role in spreading that message all around the world and it is also supported by the campaign which is simultaneously organized by the World Stroke Organization(WSO).
World Stroke Day Theme:
When somebody has a stroke, every second that goes by is crucial. As brain tissue and millions of neurons begin to fade away, time could not be more precious. So this #Precioustime campaign aims to raise awareness of stroke signs and the benefits of timely access to emergency medical care.
So we can see that timely action is very important when it comes to stroke and with timely action people also must be aware of the right action to perform at the right moment and this is not a small thing as while doing it you can save many lives or give them a chance to survive for some more time in their life so it will be very useful for people to learn about the best ways to deal with stroke with a timely action.
Most Searched FAQs on World Stroke Day:
1. When is World Stroke Day observed?
World Stroke Day is annually observed on 29th October.
2. How do we celebrate World Stroke Day?
People celebrate the day by educating themselves on the risk factors related to strokes. There are several conferences and discussions taking place throughout the day. People also learn about their own risk of having strokes, what they could do to prevent them, and how to respond when they or someone near them is having a stroke.
3. What is the theme of World Stroke Day 2022?
The theme of World Stroke Day 2022 as a part of the World Stroke Organization campaign is #Precioustime.