Stroke Awareness Month
May 1 - May 31
About Stroke Awareness Month
Stroke Awareness Month is observed throughout May each year, dedicated to raising public awareness about stroke prevention, recognition, and treatment. Led by the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, the campaign educates communities about the warning signs of stroke, the importance of acting quickly, and how lifestyle changes can significantly reduce risk. Stroke remains the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States.
What is Stroke Awareness Month?
Stroke Awareness Month is a national health observance held every May to increase understanding of stroke, a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or reduced. The American Stroke Association coordinates the campaign, providing educational resources, hosting webinars, and distributing toolkits to healthcare professionals, patients, and community organisations. The month focuses on teaching people to recognise the signs of stroke using the FAST method and encouraging preventive measures such as managing blood pressure and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
When is Stroke Awareness Month?
Stroke Awareness Month runs throughout the entire month of May each year. In 2026, it takes place from Friday, 1 May to Sunday, 31 May. The dates are fixed to the calendar month and do not vary from year to year.
Why Stroke Awareness Month Matters
Stroke is a medical emergency where every minute counts. According to the American Stroke Association, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, and someone dies from stroke every 3.5 minutes. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that 15 million people suffer a stroke each year, with 5 million left permanently disabled. Despite these figures, many people cannot identify the warning signs of stroke or do not know that rapid treatment can dramatically improve outcomes.
The good news is that over 80% of strokes are preventable. High blood pressure is the single most significant controllable risk factor, contributing to more than half of all strokes. Other modifiable risk factors include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and physical inactivity. Stroke Awareness Month exists to spread this message: that awareness, education, and early action save lives. The campaign also highlights advances in stroke treatment, including clot-retrieval procedures that can reverse stroke symptoms if administered within hours of onset.
How to Get Involved in Stroke Awareness Month
Whether you are a healthcare professional, a stroke survivor, or simply someone who wants to help save lives, there are many ways to participate:
- Learn the FAST signs – FAST stands for Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call emergency services. Memorise these signs and share them with your family and friends.
- Check your blood pressure – High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Schedule a check-up with your GP or use a home monitor to know your numbers and discuss management with your healthcare provider.
- Host or attend a webinar – The American Stroke Association offers free stroke-focused webinars throughout May, suitable for healthcare teams, workplaces, and community groups.
- Wear red – Show your support by wearing red during May, particularly on awareness event days, to spark conversations about stroke prevention.
- Share survivor stories – If you or someone you know has experienced a stroke, sharing that story can inspire others to take preventive action and seek timely treatment.
- Organise a workplace wellness event – Partner with local health services to offer blood pressure screenings, healthy eating workshops, or physical activity challenges at your workplace.
- Support stroke research – Donate to organisations funding stroke research, such as the American Stroke Association or the Stroke Association (UK), to help advance treatments and rehabilitation.
History of Stroke Awareness Month
The formal designation of May as Stroke Awareness Month in the United States traces back to a presidential proclamation. The observance gained momentum through the efforts of the American Stroke Association, which was established in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association to specifically address the prevention and treatment of stroke. Before this, stroke awareness campaigns existed in various forms, but lacked a unified national focus.
The introduction of the FAST acronym in the late 1990s transformed public health messaging around stroke. Originally developed by researchers in the United Kingdom in 1998, the FAST test provided a simple, memorable way for ordinary people to identify stroke symptoms and act quickly. The American Stroke Association adopted and promoted FAST widely, and it has since become the global standard for stroke recognition campaigns.
Over the decades, Stroke Awareness Month has evolved to reflect advances in treatment. The approval of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in 1996 gave doctors the first effective clot-dissolving drug for ischaemic stroke, but it must be administered within hours of symptom onset. More recently, mechanical thrombectomy procedures have extended the treatment window for certain patients. These advances make public awareness even more critical, as outcomes depend heavily on how quickly patients reach specialist care.
Noteworthy Facts About Stroke Awareness Month
- Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, killing approximately 150,000 Americans each year.
- Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, and someone dies from stroke every 3.5 minutes.
- Over 80% of strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes and managing risk factors such as high blood pressure.
- The FAST acronym (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) was developed in the UK in 1998 and is now used worldwide to help people recognise stroke symptoms.
- Stroke can happen at any age. About 10% of all strokes occur in people under 50.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Stroke Awareness Month?
Stroke Awareness Month is a national health observance held throughout May to educate the public about stroke prevention, warning signs, and the importance of rapid treatment. It is led by the American Stroke Association.
When is Stroke Awareness Month in 2026?
Stroke Awareness Month runs from Friday, 1 May to Sunday, 31 May 2026.
What does FAST stand for in stroke awareness?
FAST is an acronym used to help identify stroke symptoms: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call emergency services. If someone shows any of these signs, call for emergency help immediately.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness about stroke by sharing the FAST signs with your friends, family, and colleagues. Use the hashtags #StrokeAwarenessMonth and #StrokeAwarenessMonth2026 on social media. You can also use #StrokeAwareness and #ActFAST to reach a wider audience. Every person who learns to recognise stroke symptoms could help save a life.
Related Awareness Days
- Make May Purple / Action on Stroke Month – The UK’s own stroke awareness campaign, run by the Stroke Association, encouraging communities to wear purple and fundraise throughout May.
- World Hypertension Day – Observed on 17 May, this day raises awareness about high blood pressure, the single biggest risk factor for stroke.
- World Health Day – Held on 7 April each year, this WHO observance promotes global health priorities including cardiovascular disease prevention.
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