Stroke remains the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease
and cancer.
Stroke
is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability
in the United States. In 1999, about 1,100,000 Americans
reported difficulties with daily living because of a
stroke.
Each
year, about 700,000 people suffer a stroke. About 500,000
of these are first attacks, and 200,000 are recurrent
attacks.
Stroke killed
275,000 people in 2002 and accounted for about 1 of
16 deaths in the United States.
28% of people
who suffer a stroke in a given year are under age 65.
Compared with
white males 45 to 54 years old, African Americans males
in the same age group have a threefold greater
risk of ischemic stroke.
About 50% of stroke deaths in 2003 occurred out of hospital.
On
average, someone in the United States suffers a stroke
every 45 seconds; every 3 to 4 minutes, someone dies of a
stroke.
About
4.7 million stroke survivors (2.3 million men, 2.4 million
women) are alive today.
Among persons 45 to 64 years old, 8-12%
of ischemic strokes and 37-38% of hemorrhagic strokes
result in death within 30 days.
Quitting smoking reduces your stroke risk to that of a
non-smoker in five years.
Sickle cell disease is the most important cause of
ischemic stroke among African-American children.
Within a year, up to 25% of people who have had a
transient ischemic attack (TIA or "mini-stroke") will
die. This percentage is high among people 65 and older.
In 2000, stroke
accounted for 7% of all deaths - 15, 409 Canadians.
Every seven
minutes, a Canadian dies of heart disease or stroke.
Stroke was the
second largest contributor to hospital care costs among
cardiovascular diseases (2000-1).
80% of
Canadians have at least one of the risk
factors for heart and/or cerebrovascular disease: daily
smoking, physical inactivity, being overweight,
self-reported high blood pressure, or diabetes.
Between 1969
and 1999, death rates for cerebrovascular disease
decreased by 62%.
According to
the World Health Organization, 15 million people suffer
stroke worldwide each year. Of these, 5 million die and
another 5 million are permanently disabled.
High blood pressure
contributes to over 12.7 million strokes worldwide.
Europe averages
approximately 650,000 stroke deaths each year.
In developed countries, the incidence of stroke is
declining - largely due to efforts to lower blood
pressure and reduce smoking. However, the overall rate
of stroke remains high due to the aging of the
population.
U.S. Stroke Deaths 35+, 1991-8, by County
This map clearly shows the "Stroke Belt,"
an area in the Southeastern U. S. and Mississippi
Valley with a high rate of stroke
mortality.
U.S. Stroke Deaths for Men 35+, 1991-8
Again, the "Stroke Belt" is clearly visible.
The information contained in this
web site is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment.
Consultation with your doctor or health care professional is recommended.
About Stroke
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