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Stroke Statistics
- No. 3 killer in the U.S. and Minnesota; No. 2 killer worldwide
- Leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States
- About 700,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year — that’s someone every 45 seconds. More than 160,000 will die.
- 14 percent of people who survive a first stroke or transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke) will have another one within one year.
- In 2005, more than 10,500 people were hospitalized in Minnesota for stroke
- African Americans have the highest rate of stroke among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States; about 100,000 African Americans will suffer a stroke this year.
- African Americans are twice as likely to have a stroke as whites.
- You have the power to end stroke. Stop smoking, know your family’s medical history, watch your weight and be physically active at least 30 minutes most days of the week, eat healthfully, and regulate and control high blood pressure and diabetes.
Pledge to Fight Stroke
Stroke is the No. 3 killer in the United States, the No. 2 killer worldwide, and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. African-Americans are almost twice as likely to have a stroke as whites. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any age.
But many of the risk factors, such as high blood pressure, smoking, and obesity, are reversible. To raise awareness, the American Stroke Association initiated the Power To End Stroke campaign.
To take the pledge to reduce your own risk factors or to become a Power To End Stroke ambassador and help educate the public about stroke, contact Sueling Schardin at 952-278-7917 or sueling.schardin@heart.org.
The Power To End Stroke campaign is supported nationally by the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership.
Controllable Risk Factors of Stroke
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Physical inactivity
Symptoms of Stroke
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
There’s a treatment available for stroke that can greatly reduce the side effects if administered within the first three hours of the start of a stroke. Recognize the symptoms of a stroke, and if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1. Acting quickly can save your life.
