Every minute counts: know the signs of stroke
Thursday 29 October is World Stroke Day. The World Stroke Organization's campaign this year is "Every Minute Counts". The message is simple: learn the signs of stroke today so you can act fast tomorrow.
Why it matters here
Stroke is one of Australia's biggest killers. The Stroke Foundation estimates there were 45,785 strokes in Australia in 2023. That is about one every 11 minutes.
It is not only an older person's problem. In 2023, 1 in 4 strokes happened in people under 65. People in regional Australia are also 17% more likely to have a stroke than people in the cities.
Know the signs: think F.A.S.T.
The F.A.S.T. test is the easiest way to remember the most common signs:
Face. Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms. Can they lift both arms?
Speech. Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time. Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 straight away.
Other signs can appear on their own or together. These include weakness or numbness on one or both sides of the body. Watch too for dizziness, loss of balance or an unexplained fall. Sudden loss or blurring of vision, a sudden severe headache and trouble swallowing are also warning signs.
Even if it passes, call 000
Sometimes the signs go away after a few minutes. Don't wait to see if they come back. The Stroke Foundation is clear that a stroke is always a medical emergency. Call 000 no matter how long the symptoms last.
More than 80% of strokes can be prevented
That is the good news. Many of the biggest risk factors can be found and managed. The Stroke Foundation suggests a health check to look at:
high blood pressure
type 2 diabetes
high cholesterol
atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat
Day to day, staying active and eating well help. Quitting smoking matters a great deal. Smoking doubles your risk of stroke. Cutting back on alcohol helps too.
Some risks you can't change, like getting older or a family history of stroke. They are still worth knowing about, because they make the other checks more important.
Talk to your GP
If you haven't had your blood pressure checked for a while, or you have any of the risk factors above, book a check-up with your GP.
To make an appointment at Your Health Griffith, call 02 6962 7661 or book online through HotDoc.
Source
World Stroke Organization, World Stroke Day 2026: Every Minute Counts, read 23 October 2026: world-stroke.org
Stroke Foundation, Top 10 facts about stroke, Signs of stroke and Prevent stroke: strokefoundation.org.au
