Every few seconds, somewhere in the world, a life is altered by a stroke. In India, stroke is already among the leading causes of death and long-term disability. And its incidence continues to rise steadily, often affecting people far younger than previously expected. These numbers are real and represent families disrupted, livelihoods altered and lives permanently reshaped.
Stroke is often misunderstood as an unpredictable event. According to clinicians, it is closely linked to conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, irregular heart rhythms, smoking, prolonged stress and physical inactivity—all of which significantly increase the risk. In addition, seasonal patterns add another dimension. Colder months, consistently, see a higher burden of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Hence, for individuals already living with cardiovascular risk factors, winter can become a period of heightened danger.
Yet, the most decisive factor in stroke outcomes is not the season or even the risk profile—it is time. When the blood flow to the brain is interrupted, neurons begin to suffer damage within minutes, and, unlike other organs, the brain has little tolerance for delay. The silver lining is that advances in stroke care have been transformative. Clot-dissolving drugs and minimally invasive procedures can restore blood flow and preserve brain function, but their success depends almost entirely on how quickly a patient reaches appropriate care.
This is where citizen awareness becomes critical. Too many strokes occur at home, with early symptoms dismissed as fatigue, vertigo, stress, or a passing weakness. Speech changes, facial drooping, arm weakness, confusion, sudden imbalance, or an intense unexplained headache are often observed, but not acted upon.
Public understanding of stroke must move beyond medical circles. Simple tools, such as the FAST test, were designed to help ordinary people recognise danger and respond decisively. Their power lies in familiarity. Awareness needs to exist before the emergency arises. Health care systems must support urgency with preparedness. Effective stroke care requires coordination across emergency services, rapid imaging, trained neurological teams, advanced intervention capability and structured rehabilitation. It is not a single moment of treatment, but a continuum of care that begins with recognition and extends long after discharge.
Public awareness initiatives can strengthen this continuum in meaningful ways. In Chennai, Apollo Hospitals undertook a city-wide stroke awareness effort using clustered hoardings placed across high-traffic corridors. These were designed not as advertisements, but as prompts for recognition. Simple messages, repeated visually, reminding citizens of the urgency of response.
Such efforts matter as awareness does not always announce its impact immediately, but it shapes behaviour over time. A passer-by who notices a message. A family member who recalls a symptom. A bystander who chooses urgency over delay. Families and communities play a central role in this process. Yet, prevention remains the most enduring safeguard. Regular health checks, consistent management of blood pressure and blood sugar, monitoring heart rhythm, staying physically active even during colder months, paying attention to hydration and sleep are foundational, and not extraordinary measures. They are habits that protect the brain quietly and effectively.
Stroke reminds us that longevity alone is not enough. Years lived with severe disability carry emotional, social and economic costs that extend well beyond the hospital. Preserving brain health is, therefore, not only a clinical responsibility, but a societal one.
Saving the brain often begins with recognising that hesitation has a cost. Awareness is not optional, it is lifesaving!
Dr Preetha Reddy is Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited.