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A couple riding bikes together.Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States. Over 800,000 people die in the U.S. each year from cardiovascular disease and strokes.1

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. You can greatly reduce your risk for stroke through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication.

Stroke can cause death or significant disability, such as paralysis, speech difficulties, and emotional problems. Some new treatments can reduce stroke damage if patients get medical care soon after symptoms begin. When a stroke happens, it is important to recognize the symptoms, call 9-1-1 right away, and get to a hospital quickly.

Featured Items


May is Stroke Awareness MonthMay is National Stroke Awareness Month
Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. In 2008 alone, more than 133,000 Americans died from stroke—or one person every four minutes—died from stroke, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.


Strategies from the Field CoverPaul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry—Strategies from the Field
Each Coverdell-funded state has identified unique ways to meet the goals and objectives of the program. The information in this document can be used by Coverdell-funded states as well as states not funded by Coverdell but are interested in implementing a stroke registry.


2008 Stroke Hospitalization Atlas Cover2008 Stroke Hospitalization Atlas for Medicare Beneficiaries
The 2009–2010 flu season is upon us and many people are likely to get ill with either the usual seasonal flu or 2009 H1N1 flu. People with heart disease, cardiovascular disease, or who have had a stroke are at increased risk of having medical complications of flu. This information is intended to help this group prevent getting seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu.

Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke RegistryStroke Fact Sheet
Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States. Over 800,000 people die in the U.S. each year from cardiovascular disease and strokes.


Reference

  1. Miniño AM, Murphy SL, Xu J, Kochanek KD. Deaths: Final data for 2008 [PDF-2.9M]. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 59 no 10. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2011.

 

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