World Stroke Day is Oct. 29
"I will not have a stroke."
Take a stand. Make small changes to improve your brain function and prevent stroke.
Strokes don't discriminate. A stroke can affect anyone, at any age. About one in four people worldwide will have a stroke in his or her lifetime.
To prevent stroke, it's vital to understand your risk factors. Some risk factors — such as age, race, gender and family history — are outside of your control. But you can control other risk factors.
Here are some steps you can take that may help you prevent stroke:
- Monitor your blood pressure.
- Control your cholesterol.
- Keep your blood sugar down.
- Get active.
- Eat better.
- Lose weight if you need to.
- Don't smoke, period.
- Take medications, such as aspirin, as prescribed.


Raise funds to end stroke and heart disease with One CycleNation
Join our One CycleNation digital event on World Stroke Day, Oct. 29, to get your heart pumping while raising funds for prevention and treatment of stroke and heart disease.
We’ll be joined by special celebrity guests who will ride and encourage head-to-head in competitions, and celebrate participants (such as yourself!) for fundraising and distance achievements.
I have risk factors and I want to avoid stroke.
I'm a stroke survivor and I want to prevent another stroke.
I’m a professional and I want to help my patients.


"I will act F.A.S.T."
Acting quickly may be the difference between recovery and disability. Use the letters F.A.S.T. to spot the signs of stroke and know when to call 9-1-1.
Face Drooping
Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
Arm Weakness
Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech
Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue."
Time to Call 9-1-1
If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.Additional Signs of Stroke
With stroke, it's crucial to act quickly, to increase chances of recovery. If someone shows any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
- Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, and loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
World Stroke Day Resources
- World Stroke Day Prevention Resources
- World Stroke Day Health Care Professional Resources
- World Stroke Day Stroke Prevention Toolkit (PDF)
- Recursos en Español
- Preventing Another Stroke
- High Blood Pressure and Stroke (Infographic)
- F.A.S.T. (Infographic)
- 5 Fast Facts about Stroke (Infographic)
- 5 Hechos Clave Sobre el Ataque Cerebral (5 Facts About Stroke Infographic)
- Control Stroke Risk Factors for Brain Health (Infographic)
- Taking Steps to Prevent Another Stroke (Infographic)
- Strokes and Brain Health (Infographic)
- Secondary Stroke Prevention Checklist for Healthcare Professionals (PDF)
- What to do instead of having another Stroke (Infographic)
- Spot a Stroke F.A.S.T (Video)