Knowledge of the warning signs (WSS) and risk factors of the stroke (RFS) in the population of patients hospitalised at the neurological department was estimated using a special questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on the age, gender, educational level, size of the hometown, presence of risk factors and sources of medical information. Knowledge of WSS can influence effectiveness of treatment during the acute phase of the stroke, e.g.thrombolysis,meanwhile the knowledge of risk factors appears to be important for an effective secondary and primary prevention of stroke. From the total 300 of complete responses, only 35% of respondents knew more than one correct WSS and 34% marked correctly more than one RFS. The lower educational level of respondents was significantly associated with lower level of informedness on the WSS and RFS, as well as the association of higher age with lower RFS information. Low knowledge on RFS had amazingly also the stroke patients. The most common source of information was the media and vicinage, physician as a source of information was indicated only by only 7% of respondents. The results indicate the existence of large reserves in the information level on the health risks in our population, namely in the most risky older subpopulation. Results also show the possible sources for the increase of specific knowledge e.g. stressing on further education of the medical personnel.

        Key words: warning signs of the stroke, risk factors of the stroke, population