World Stroke Day, how to prevent it and how to recognize the first signs

Every year in Italy around 100 thousand people are affected by a stroke and there are one million who live with the effects of the disease. On a European scale, cases rise to 1.1 million and there are around 460 thousand deaths. These are the numbers remembered in view of World Stroke Day 2026, which is celebrated on 29 October, by A.L.I.Ce. Italia Odv (Association for the Fight against Cerebral Stroke), which represents people affected by stroke and their caregivers, and by ISA-AII (Italian Stroke Association), an Italian scientific society dedicated to cerebrovascular diseases.

The Day, promoted by the World Stroke Organization, draws attention to the importance of recognizing symptoms promptly and calling 112 immediately.

The alarm bells

"Too many citizens continue to underestimate the symptoms of a stroke or think that they can resolve on their own", declares Andrea Vianello, president of A.L.I.Ce. Italy. "Knowing the warning signs means offering those affected a real chance of getting treatment in time." The warning signs of a stroke are not difficult to identify: the face suddenly tilting to one side, an arm that no longer lifts, words that become slurred or unintelligible, the sudden loss of balance or vision. Recognizing them and calling for help promptly can change a person's life. Today, stroke, in fact, is no longer a disease without the possibility of cure. The availability of treatments capable of freeing the blocked blood vessel has changed the prognosis of many patients, allowing in many cases to limit brain damage and disability. However, the effectiveness of these therapies depends strictly on how quickly they are administered.

"Stroke is a time-dependent pathology by definition", says Paola Santalucia, president of ISA-AII. "Quickly recognizing the symptoms, activating the emergency system and reaching the most appropriate center represent the first real treatment. Today we have extremely effective therapies, but they only work if the patient arrives in time", he adds. "For this reason it is essential not to drive and not to wait for the doctor's opinion the following day: you must call 112 immediately."

Too much salt and uncontrolled hypertension for Italians

Despite numerous awareness campaigns, Italians continue to have excessively high levels of blood pressure and consume too much salt, two important risk factors (closely interrelated) for stroke: the Istituto Superiore di Sanità reminds us of this in view of the World Day.

Preliminary data from the Italian Health Examination Survey 2023-2025, carried out as part of the Heart Project, explains the ISS, show that in the population between 35 and 74 years of age, the average systolic blood pressure values ​​are equal to 134 mmHg in men and 125 mmHg in women. Even among people undergoing treatment, blood pressure is not always optimal. It is estimated that only 22% of men and 34% of women undergoing treatment have values ​​lower than 140/90 mmHg. Among the critical issues is also the high share of people who do not know they have high values: in the age group between 35 and 44, among people with high blood pressure, 72% of men and 53% of women are not aware of their condition.

Salt consumption is also problematic: the Heart Project data indicates an average daily salt consumption of 9.3 grams in men and 7.1 grams in women: values ​​higher than the World Health Organization recommendation, which suggests consumption of less than 5 grams per day. Only 11% of men and 24% of women comply with this indication.

In-depth analysis

Heart attack or stroke more frequent in those who have not done physical activity for 12 years