Stroke is one of the leading causes of serious long-term disability. The disease has been reported to reduce mobility in more than half of stroke survivors, particularly those aged 65 and over.
In 2018, 1 in 6 deaths from cardiovascular disease was caused by a stroke. In the United States, a person has a stroke every 40 seconds, and a person dies from a stroke every 4 minutes. About 87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes in which blood flow to the brain is blocked.
The risk of stroke increases with age, but strokes can occur at any age. It was shown that 34% of those hospitalized for stroke in 2009 were under the age of 65. About 80% of strokes are preventable. High blood pressure is the single most treatable risk factor for stroke.
Preventing, diagnosing and controlling and reducing stroke through lifestyle changes is critical. Health systems can help address stroke risk factors and treat stroke when it occurs, if it is intervened in a timely manner. To continue the decline in stroke deaths, stroke risk factors need to be reduced and the quality of stroke care should be improved.
Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm
