Hong Kong health chief urges stroke awareness with 'Talk, Smile, Use' mnemonic
Hong Kong's Department of Health has urged the public to use the 'Talk, Smile, Use' mnemonic to identify stroke symptoms and adopt healthy lifestyles. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the city, with 2,786 provisional deaths recorded last year, and global data shows one in four adults w
Hong Kong's Department of Health has called on the public to learn the 'Talk, Smile, Use' mnemonic to identify stroke symptoms and adopt healthier lifestyles, marking World Stroke Day on 29 October.
The mnemonic covers three major stroke symptoms: difficulty speaking or expressing oneself; asymmetrical facial expressions; and weakness in one hand or leg. The full phrase urges people to seek medical help quickly if any of these signs appear.
Dr Leung Chit-yin, Director of the Centre for Health Protection at the Department of Health, said that according to the World Health Organization, the lifetime risk of stroke has increased by 50 per cent over the past 20 years. Globally, one in four adults is expected to experience a stroke in their lifetime, and more than 100 million people have already had one.
In Hong Kong, stroke was the fourth most common cause of death last year, with 2,786 provisional registered deaths, of which 5.3 per cent involved people aged 49 or younger. The 2026 World Stroke Day theme is 'Every Minute Counts', highlighting the importance of seeking medical help as soon as possible after a stroke.
While stroke incidence rises significantly with age, it is not limited to older adults. Globally, about 60 per cent of stroke cases involve people under 70, and 16 per cent of patients have a stroke before age 50.
Dr Leung noted that most strokes are attributable to modifiable risk factors, including high blood pressure, smoking, high LDL cholesterol, high-sodium diets, high fasting blood glucose, overweight, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption. However, the department's Population Health Survey for 2020-2022 found that among people aged 15-84 with high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, 41 per cent, 36 per cent and 70 per cent respectively were unaware of their condition until the survey's health check.
The 2025 Chief Executive's Policy Address announced that the Hospital Authority would gradually establish stroke centres and cardiovascular disease integrated medical centres based on national accreditation standards. Tuen Mun Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital's stroke centres received national accreditation in 2025. The Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Hospital has launched a post-stroke treatment programme providing Chinese medicine-based integrated care.