‘World Stroke Day 2026 – Stroke Prevention for All Carnival’ press conference and event highlights New stroke slogan for easier recognition and heightened public awareness on prevention
To mark World Stroke Day on 29 October, the Hong Kong Stroke Society (HKSS) joined hands with HKU Stroke, a stroke research and prevention group under LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), and the Hong Kong Stroke Fund (HKSF) to host the ‘World Stroke Day 2026 – Stroke Prevention for All Carnival’ from 23 to 25 October at Olympian City. The event provided free health screenings and consultations to members of the public. The carnival featured seminars delivered by stroke healthcare professionals, as well as demonstrations of martial arts by top Hong Kong athletes. On-site activities also included a variety of family-friendly events, including parent-child reading sessions, game booths, and interactive performances, all aimed at raising public awareness of stroke through diverse programmes.
Hong Kong’s 4th leading cause of death: high costs of delayed treatment
Dr Tsoi Tak-hong, President of the Hong Kong Stroke Fund, stated, ‘A stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain become blocked or rupture, leading to cerebral ischemia or haemorrhage. Without oxygen, nerve cells suffer damage, which can result in severe disability or death. Stroke is now the second leading cause of death worldwide and the fourth in Hong Kong. Annually, there are approximately 15,000 to 20,000 new cases, imposing a significant burden on families and society.’
Dr Samuel Lam Siu-kei, President of the Hong Kong Stroke Society, emphasised the importance of rapid response, ‘According to our local data, about 50% of stroke patients arrive at hospital beyond 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Every minute of delay can result in approximately 1.9 million neurons dying, severely jeopardising patients’ chance of receiving effective treatments and recovery. Prompt recognition of symptoms and immediate medical attention are crucial.’
Spot stroke faster with the updated Chinese mnemonic BE-FAST
Between September 2019 and August 2022, HKU Stroke conducted a comprehensive study analysing clinical data from over 6,500 acute stroke patients admitted across four public hospitals in Hong Kong. The findings revealed that about 10% of patients presented with balance or visual disturbances upon admission. Common symptoms included dizziness, unsteady gait, double vision, and varying degrees of visual impairment or blindness. While the English slogan (BE-FAST) effectively summarises typical stroke symptoms, the widely used Chinese mnemonic ‘談笑用兵’ (FAST) previously did not encompass warning signs related to balance and vision.
To align with the English BE-FAST slogan, Dr Lam introduced the updated Chinese mnemonic, ‘重視談笑用兵’, which now broadens the scope, emphasising the need to seek immediate medical attention if these symptoms occur suddenly:
重 (Balance - B): Unsteady gait, sudden loss of balance, or loss of body coordination;
視 (Eyes - E): Blurred vision or double vision;
談 (Speech - S): Slurred speech, difficulty finding words, or inability to speak;
笑 (Face - F): Asymmetrical facial expressions, drooping at the corner of the mouth, or a crooked smile;
用 (Arm - A): Weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or difficulty lifting an arm or leg;
兵 (Time - T): Seek immediate emergency medical assistance if any of the above symptoms have occurred suddenly.
Young stroke cases on the rise: 90% with preventable risk factors
Dr Gary Lau Kui-kai, Director of HKU Stroke and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine at HKUMed, highlighted that stroke is no longer confined to the elderly, ‘Our HKU Stroke team has found that over the past 20 years, the incidence of young stroke in Hong Kong has increased by 30%, which is concerning. Between 2019 and 2022, we analysed approximately 900 young stroke patients aged 18 to 55 who were admitted to four public hospitals in Hong Kong. During an average follow-up period of four years, about 9% had died, around 25% remained disabled, and around 50% did not return to work. A separate study also indicated that about one-third of stroke patients suffered from moderate-severe depression. These patients are in the prime of their careers and often serve as the breadwinners of their families. The impact of young stroke on families and society is huge.’
Dr Lau emphasised that proactive early risk management can largely prevent stroke, ‘Among the young patients studied, as many as 90% had at least one modifiable risk factor, and 65% had two or more, including smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. Therefore, early intervention in health risk management is essential.’
Promoting ‘Parent-Child Co-Learning’ and ‘Stroke Ambassadors’ to deepen community engagement
To enhance stroke prevention education, HKU Stroke has partnered with British children’s book Mr Men Little Miss to publish engaging illustrated books that communicate health messages to children and parents. This initiative aims to turn family reading time into meaningful health education. The team has launched a ‘Parent-Child Co-Learning Programme,’ organising story-based activities and health talks at primary schools and kindergartens to teach children about brain health and stroke prevention. The first book, A Dizzy Picnic, which highlights the importance of understanding stroke symptoms, has already been published. The second book, Go-Go-Go Carnival – Let’s learn about blood pressure with Mr Rush!, was released mid-month, aiming to raise awareness of hypertension, the most important modifiable risk factor of strokes.
Additionally, HKU Stroke and the Hong Kong Stroke Fund are set to launch a new community healthcare initiative, recruiting and training members of the public to become ‘Stroke Ambassadors’. These ambassadors will learn about stroke prevention and vascular risk management, encourage regular vascular health monitoring, connect with community resources, and disseminate information on stroke prevention, fostering a culture of self-care and mutual support.
Dr Ryan Cheung, Ms Janet Kung, and Health Ambassador Ms Ali Lee shared insights on exercise and holistically healthy living
Dr Ryan Cheung, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) physician, shared tips on finding time for physical exercise amidst a hectic work schedule, suggesting that one can start by choosing sports they enjoy. Ms Janet Kung, an ICU nurse and Hong Kong ice climber, encouraged everyone to take the first step, beginning with a simple 10-minute brisk walk to build health step-by-step over time.
Finally, Health Ambassador Ms Ali Lee noted that while the event’s slogan "BE-FAST" is essential, paying attention to one’s emotional and mental well-being is also crucial for maintaining overall physical and psychological health.
Heartfelt thanks go to the Hong Kong Stroke Society and the Hong Kong Stroke Fund for their steadfast partnership, as well as the Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre, the Hong Kong Stroke Association, Mr Men Limited, healthcare experts from both Western and Chinese medicine, top local athletes, meteorologists, and nutritionists for their cross-sector support. Combining efforts from all walks of life will help spread stroke prevention knowledge throughout communities and into every household.
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