The World Stroke Campaign aims to disseminate essential life-saving information and share knowledge about actions and lifestyle behaviors that could avert the assault of stroke. The campaign will also identify opportunities to improve and educate the lay public on the fundamental need for appropriate and quality long-term care and support for stroke survivors, including the empowerment of stroke care-providers. THE SLOGAN: BECAUSE I CARE........

1. Become more physically active. Exercising helps to lower blood pressure, controls weight, helps create a healthy balance of blood fats, and improves your body’s ability to handle insulin. Aim to do some kind of moderate physical activity for 30 minutes at least five days a week.
2. Eat a healthy diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidant vitamins and minerals, which research has found to reduce the risk of stroke. A high consumption of salt has been linked to high blood pressure, while too much saturated fat can lead to artherosclerosis.
3. Stay a healthy weight. Being overweight is a risk of a stroke.
4. Don’t smoke. Smoking increases your risk of stroke because it causes atherosclerosis and makes the blood more likely to clot.
5. Drink sensibly. Watching your alcohol intake can help you avoid stroke. Avoid heavy drinking, especially drinking large amounts of alcohol at one go, as this can cause blood pressure to soar.
6. Get your blood pressure checked. All adults should have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years (more often if they have high blood pressure), are taking medication or have other underlying conditions.
7. Seek advice from your doctor before taking the contraceptive pill or going for hormone replacement therapy.

Here are the facts:

• Stroke can be prevented.
• Stroke can be treated. 
• Stroke can be managed in the long-term.
• 1 in 6 people will have a stroke in their lifetime.
• Every 6 seconds stroke kills someone.
• Every other second stroke attacks a person, regardless of age or gender.
• 15 million people experience a stroke each year, 6 million of them do not survive.
• About 30 million people have had a stroke - most have residual disabilities