World Stroke Day, Oct. 29, 2009.

The theme for the World Stroke Day 2009 is “Stroke, what can I do?”

Strokes. People have heard of them. Many think they know what they are. Many don’t know the signs of a stroke. Are you at risk of having a stroke? Would you know if you or someone else was having a stroke?

The World Stroke Organization is encouraging everyone to become more aware of strokes and to help prevent the disability and death that so often occur after a stroke.

The World Stroke Organization (WSO) was created on October 29, 2006, at the Regional World Stroke Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, when the International Stroke Society and the World Stroke Federation merged into a single organization. Since then, to commemorate its conception,the World Stroke Day is held on October 29.

According to their website:

Worldwide, stroke accounts for 5.7 million deaths each year and ranks second to ischemic heart disease as a cause of death; it is also a leading cause of serious disability, sparing no age, sex, ethnic origin, or country.

Strokes, medically called cerebrovascular accidents, or CVAs, can often be prevented. If they aren’t prevented, many are treatable IF the person gets help fast enough. To get help fast enough, the stroke needs to be recognized for what it is.

What can you do?

You can learn about strokes. Some good resources are:

• Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time. (NINDS)
• Stroke (CDC)
• Stroke (FDA)

You can find out what your risk is with this Ohio State University Medical Center Stroke Risk Assessment.

And, you can download and read this brochure from the WSO:

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Images: World Stroke Organization