http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm
- Stroke kills almost 130,000 Americans each year—that’s 1 out of every 20 deaths.
- On average, one American dies from stroke every 4 minutes.
- Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke.
- About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes.
- About 185,00 strokes—nearly one of four—are in people who have had a previous stroke.
- About 87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes, when blood flow to the brain is blocked.
- Stroke costs the United States an estimated $34 billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications to treat stroke, and missed days of work.
- Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability
- Patients who arrive at the emergency room within 3 hours of their first symptoms tend to have less disability 3 months after a stroke than those who received delayed care
Signs of Stroke in Men and Women
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.