According to the World Health Organisation, high blood pressure was the leading risk factor for stroke as, over time, excessive pressure exerted by blood on the wall of blood vessels damages and causes them to rupture. In Luxembourg, around 30% of the population is affected by high blood pressure.

In a statement published ahead of World Stroke Day on 29 October, the Luxembourg health ministry reported that in 2016, there were 1,000 hospitalisations and 220 deaths as a result of cerebrovascular diseases, making stroke the fifth biggest killer in Luxembourg.

“The sequelae it leaves, such as paralysis on one side of the body, language, vision and walking disorders, are a heavy burden on both the patient and the family. To limit the after-effects, it is important to recognize the symptoms and go to the emergency room as soon as possible, as treatments are only effective in the first few hours,” the ministry wrote.

According to the European Stroke Organisation, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability and the second leading cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease in Europe.