World Stroke Day 29th October 2017
World Stroke Day 29th October 2017
Approximately 17 million people worldwide have a stroke each year, and there are 26 million stroke survivors living around us. Projection data suggested that by 2035, an additional 1 million people in the EU would have had a stroke, a 25% increase from 2015. In addition to the high prevalence, stroke is also the second cause of death worldwide after ischemic heart disease, and a major cause of premature mortality. Moreover, as a leading cause of acquired disability in adults, stroke causes a greater range of disabilities, including being the second cause of dementia. Less than half of the stroke survivors are independent. Approximately 11% of stroke patients are newly admitted to a care home after their stroke. In Europe, stroke costs over 38 billion euros a year. Although age-specific stroke incidence has decreased by about 20% in developed countries in the last ten years, given the ageing population and general worldwide rise in diabetes and obesity, stroke burden is still expected to increase.
Facing the large burden of stroke, the most effective way to decrease the burden is prevention. Therefore this year, the World Stroke Campaign has chosen Prevention as the main focus. Given that 90% of strokes are linked to the top 10 key risk factors, we need to work together, both as individuals and as healthcare professions, to improve community and individual awareness of stroke risk and take actions!
- Identify and control high blood pressure
- Do moderate exercise 5 times a week
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Reduce cholesterol
- Maintain a healthy BMI or waist to hip ratio
- Stop smoking and avoid second-hand exposure
- Reduce alcohol intake
- Identify and treat atrial fibrillation
- Be aware of diabetes and adequate control of diabetes
- Government policy to improve equitable access to healthcare and education
If you are thinking to organise a local World Stroke Day Campaign on the 29th Oct, please visit http://www.worldstrokecampaign.org/
Report by: Lixin Li, NDCN, Oxford University, UK
