Over the past year, the Indian Stroke Association (ISA) has intensified its nationwide efforts through large-scale awareness campaigns, state-level press conferences, professional training programs, and global collaborations across multiple cities and states. Through these initiatives, ISA has worked consistently to raise stroke awareness, promote early treatment, and reduce long-term disabilities such as paralysis, speech loss, and cognitive impairment.
Stroke Emerges as a Growing Public Health Crisis
Stroke cases are rising rapidly across all age groups in India, driven by uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes, stress, air pollution, sedentary lifestyles, delayed symptom recognition, and lack of timely treatment. Consequently, stroke has emerged as a major public health challenge. Beyond claiming lives, it leaves thousands of survivors with long-term disabilities, including paralysis, loss of speech, and cognitive impairment, placing a significant burden on families and healthcare systems.
Time Is Brain: The Urgency of Early Treatment
With a stroke occurring every 20 seconds in India and more than 18 lakh people affected each year, ISA has consistently highlighted that nearly 80% of strokes are preventable. Early detection, effective blood pressure control, and healthy lifestyle choices can dramatically reduce risk. Importantly, ISA has reinforced the need to reach a hospital within the golden window of 4.5 hours for clot-busting treatment and up to 24 hours for mechanical thrombectomy in select cases. This urgency underpins the message “Time is Brain,” as nearly 20 lakh neurons are lost every minute during a stroke.
A Year of Intensified Action and Public Engagement
Recognising the urgent need for action, ISA strengthened its mission over the past year through public education, professional training, nationwide campaigns, and international engagement. Throughout these efforts, the association reinforced one critical message: stroke is preventable, treatable, and a medical emergency where timely action saves both brain and life.
Nationwide Launch of ‘Check BP – Stop Stroke’
In May, ISA launched the nationwide ‘Check BP – Stop Stroke’ campaign, focusing on hypertension—the single most significant risk factor for stroke. As part of the initiative, ISA conducted free blood pressure screening camps, public awareness sessions, and educational activities across multiple regions, encouraging early detection and effective blood pressure control.
Simultaneously, marking Brain Stroke Awareness Month, ISA hosted the national webinar ‘Know Stroke – Beat Stroke’. The session educated both citizens and healthcare professionals on stroke warning signs, emergency response, and prevention strategies.
Raipur, Chhattisgarh: ‘Brain Stroke – Time to Act’
In June, ISA held a press conference in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, launching the ‘Brain Stroke – Time to Act’ campaign. The initiative highlighted the dangers of delayed hospital arrival and emphasized the critical treatment windows for clot-busting therapy and mechanical thrombectomy.
Hyderabad, Telangana: Reinforcing Early Action
As per the press release, the campaign continued in Hyderabad, Telangana, in July, where ISA addressed the growing burden of stroke linked to lifestyle diseases and urban stress. Experts stressed that early symptom recognition and rapid access to stroke-ready hospitals can significantly reduce mortality and permanent disability.
Jaipur, Rajasthan: Addressing Low Symptom Awareness
In August, ISA raised serious concern in Jaipur, Rajasthan, over the lack of public awareness of stroke symptoms. The association warned that delays in seeking care often lead to irreversible brain damage and paralysis, urging families to act immediately at the first sign of stroke.
Kolkata, West Bengal: Tackling the Urban Stroke Burden
In September, ISA launched the ‘Brain Stroke – Time to Act’ campaign in Kolkata, West Bengal. Public education sessions focused on the city’s rising stroke burden and promoted the BEFAST acronym—Balance loss, Eye vision changes, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to seek emergency care—to help citizens identify stroke symptoms quickly.
Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh: Strengthening BEFAST Awareness
In October, ISA continued its outreach in Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh, reinforcing the importance of public vigilance. The campaign urged citizens to recognize BEFAST signs early and seek immediate medical attention to prevent paralysis and long-term disability.
Global Engagement and International Recognition
Alongside its national initiatives, ISA actively engaged on the global stage. ISA experts participated in leading international forums, including the Asia-Pacific Stroke Conference 2025 in Japan, the World Stroke Congress 2025 in Barcelona, the Oman Stroke Conference, and the International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles. Through these platforms, ISA shared India’s experiences, highlighted the country’s stroke burden, and advocated for affordable and scalable stroke care models.
In recognition of sustained excellence, ISA President Dr. P. Vijaya received the World Stroke Organization Diamond Status Award for Excellence in Stroke Care for the fifth consecutive year. Additionally, an original research abstract developed through international collaboration on acute stroke management received the prestigious Paul Dudley White International Scholar Award from the American Heart Association at ISC 2025. Furthermore, VOH honoured Dr. Arvind Sharma with the National Leader Impact Award for Stroke Awareness and Prevention and recognised Dr. Vijaya among the top 30 healthcare leaders in its Women’s Day special feature.
Leadership Voices on the Way Forward
Summarising ISA’s year-long efforts, Dr. P. Vijaya, President, Indian Stroke Association, said, “Stroke is no longer a distant or rare disease; it is a public health emergency affecting Indians across all age groups. Every minute of delay leads to irreversible brain damage and long-term disability. Our mission is clear: empower every citizen to recognize stroke early, ensure every doctor can act swiftly, and build systems that deliver timely, life-saving care. With awareness, preparedness, and collaboration, we can prevent paralysis, save lives, and protect the nation’s brain health.”
Adding to this, Dr. Arvind Sharma, Secretary, Indian Stroke Association, said, “Awareness alone is not enough. We must strengthen emergency systems, train healthcare teams, and ensure equitable access to stroke treatment across both urban and rural India. ISA remains committed to building a faster, smarter, and more responsive stroke care ecosystem so that no patient loses their future due to delayed care.”
Prevent Stroke and Act Fast: Remember BEFAST
ISA urges every Indian to remember BEFAST and act immediately at the first warning sign: Balance loss, Eye or vision problems, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to reach the nearest stroke-ready hospital. By controlling blood pressure, managing diabetes, quitting smoking, staying physically active, and seeking emergency care promptly, up to 80% of strokes can be prevented.
A United Mission to Protect India’s Brain Health
Over the past year, the Indian Stroke Association has played a pivotal role in strengthening stroke awareness, preparedness, and response across India. By connecting citizens, doctors, policymakers, and global experts under a shared mission, ISA continues to work towards reducing stroke burden, preventing lifelong disability, and ensuring that every Indian brain gets a fighting chance.