Over 110 million people in the world have experienced a stroke.1 One in four people over the age of 25 will experience a stroke in their lifetime.1 60% of strokes happen to people under the age of 70; 16% to those under 50.1 And yet, 80% of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable.2 Fortunately, we have learned so much about recognising the signs of stroke and acting quickly to alleviate the effects.3
What Is a Stroke? Understanding the Basics
In the body, we know that pathways (vessels) such as veins and arteries, circulate blood through our organs and heart. A stroke occurs when a vessel supplying blood to a part of the brain is blocked, preventing blood from flowing there.1 Without the supply of oxygenated blood, brain cells can become damaged or die.1 Strokes are caused most commonly (85%) by clots in the arteries that deliver blood to the brain.1,4 The amount of damage to the brain and the length of recovery depends both on which part of the brain is affected and how quickly a person receives medical intervention.1
How to Detect a Stroke Early: Recognising the Warning Signs
Early symptoms of a stroke can be sudden weakness on one side of the body, facial drooping, or difficulty speaking clearly, all of which require immediate attention to prevent long-term damage and complications. One side of the body suddenly weakens or feels absent.5 One side of the face sags into a frown.5 Words, perfectly clear in the mind, can’t be articulated correctly by the mouth.5 Trouble walking, confusion, headache.5 For someone experiencing one or some or all of these symptoms, the best action is to obtain medical attention as soon as possible. The faster stroke is treated, the better.
These symptoms and signs are:
- Facial drooping – Can the person smile symmetrically?4
- Arm weakness – Is the person experiencing difficulty moving an arm on one side of the body?1
- Problems with speech – Is the person slurring words or not making sense?1
- Eyes – Does the person have problems seeing?4
- Balance – Is the person suddenly clumsy or having trouble walking?4
From Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Wearables for Early Stroke Detection
Modern tools are changing how we detect strokes – sometimes even before symptoms fully appear. From smartwatches to AI-assisted brain scans and at-home ECGs, these innovations offer hope for earlier action, better outcomes, and more lives protected.6
AI stroke detection systems, for instance, can now analyse brain scans in real time and support clinicians in identifying subtle changes linked to early stroke. One recent review found that these systems achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 93% when detecting ischaemic stroke on MRI scans.7 That’s especially important for ischaemic strokes, which are often harder to diagnose in the first critical hours – when every minute can make a difference.7
Wearable tools, such as smartwatches, are also stepping in to help. By monitoring heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation – a major risk factor for stroke – they may offer early alerts that empower people to seek help sooner.6
And beyond that, research into blood tests is opening new possibilities. These tests aim to detect specific biomarkers that may indicate stroke – even in subtle cases.8 For those wondering how to detect a mini stroke, such tests could offer answers when symptoms are fleeting or unclear. While still in development, they hold promise for faster diagnosis when traditional scans aren’t available.
Stroke Prevention: A Brief Note on Reducing Risk
Quick treatment is the most effective intervention for a stroke; even better, of course, is to avoid stroke altogether. Therefore, prevention is key. To prevent stroke and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), it is important to keep high blood pressure under control and maintain an exercise routine as well as a healthy diet.9 This will also help with maintaining a healthy weight, which is another preventive measure.9 Stopping smoking is vital, and it is also important to reduce alcohol consumption.9 Medical experts also recommend controlling cholesterol, receiving medical help for irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation), and managing diabetes and stress.9
Our Commitment to Stroke Awareness
Avoiding stroke is a significant objective of cardiovascular health; all heart diseases increase the risk of stroke.4
At Daiichi Sankyo we care for every heartbeat. We understand the importance both of preventing CVD and addressing risk factors for it; we also know that lifestyle choices can have a huge impact on the risk of experiencing CV events (like stroke). That’s why we are dedicated to raising awareness of CVD and, ultimately, to helping reduce the impact of CVD in Europe. To echo the sentiment of the World Stroke Organization – let’s look out for each other.