May is Stroke Awareness Month

Stroke strikes fast. You should too. Call 9-1-1.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It is also a leading cause of serious long-term disability. Although most strokes occur in people aged 65 years or older, strokes can occur at any age. For example, a new CDC study, Trends of Acute Ischemic Stroke Hospitalizations in the U.S.: 1994–2007, found that stroke hospitalizations increased among both males and females aged 5–44 years old, raising concern about this young population.

Knowing the symptoms of stroke and calling 9-1-1 immediately if someone appears to be having a stroke are crucial steps in getting prompt emergency medical care for a stroke. New treatments are available that can reduce the damage caused by a stroke for some victims, but these treatments need to be given soon after the symptoms start.

Know the Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

The American Stroke Association notes these five major signs of stroke—

SUDDEN

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance and coordination.
• Severe headache with no known cause.

If you think someone is having a stroke, call 9–1–1 or emergency medical services immediately. Receiving immediate treatment is critical in lowering the risk of disability and even death.

Quick Facts

• Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. In 2007, a total of 135,952 people died from stroke in the United States.
• Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United States.
• About 795,000 strokes occur in the United States each year. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes. About 185,000 occur in people who have had a stroke before.
• Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people aged 65 years or older. The chances of having a stroke double each decade after the age of 55.
• Strokes can—and do—occur at any age. Nearly 25% of strokes occur in people younger than age 65.
• Stroke death rates are higher for African Americans than for whites, even at younger ages.
• It has been noted for several decades that the southeastern United States have the highest stroke mortality rates in the country. It is not completely clear what factors contribute to the higher incidence of and mortality from stroke in this region.
• People with a family history of stroke are more likely to have a stroke.

What Can You Do to Lower Your Chance of Having a Stroke?

Knowing your chances of having a stroke and doing what you can to decrease or control your chances constitute the best approach to preventing stroke and stroke-related disability. All people can take steps to lower their chances of having a stroke or lower their chances of having another stroke.

Things you can do to lower your chances of having a stroke include taking steps to prevent and control high blood pressure, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, and not drinking too much alcohol (drinking more than two drinks per day on average for men or more than one drink per day on average for women).

• Prevent and control high blood pressure. See our high blood pressure fact sheet.
• Prevent and control diabetes. CDC's diabetes program Web site.
• Abstain from tobacco use. CDC's tobacco intervention and prevention source Web site.
• Treat atrial fibrillation. See our fact sheet on this condition.
• Prevent and control high blood cholesterol. See our cholesterol fact sheet.
• Maintain a healthy weight. CDC's nutrition and physical activity program Web site.
• Engage in regular physical activity. CDC's nutrition and physical activity program Web site.
• Eat healthy food. CDC's nutrition and physical activity program Web site.

Publications

• 2008 Atlas of Stroke Hospitalizations Among Medicare Beneficiaries
• Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke Among American Indians and Alaska Natives
• Successful Business Strategies to Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke Toolkit
• Awareness of Stroke Warning Symptoms—13 States and the District of Columbia, 2005
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 2008;57:481–485.

Podcasts Related to Heart Disease and Stroke

• A Cup of Health with CDC — Watch Those Signs [PODCAST - 03:16 minutes]
  Rob Merritt discusses how to decrease the risk for a stroke and outlines common signs and symptoms associated with this event.
  Date Released: 5/15/08
• A Minute of Health with CDC — Watch Those Signs [PODCAST - 0:59 seconds]
  The broadcast contains discussion on how to decrease the risk for a stroke and on common signs and symptoms associated with this event.
  Date Released: 5/15/08
• A Cup of Health with CDC — Common Killers [PODCAST - 04:20 minutes]
  Dr. Mary George discusses heart disease and stroke and how to avoid them.
  Date released: 10/2/08
• A Minute of Health with CDC — Common Killers [PODCAST - 0:59 seconds]
  The broadcast contains discussion on how to prevent heart disease and stroke.
  Date released: 10/2/08

More Information

• The Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry
• American Heart Association
• American Stroke Association
• Brain Attack Coalition
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• National Stroke Association