By: Lauren Antkowiak

According to the Stroke Center:

  • Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. More than 140,000 people die each year from stroke in the US.
  • Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the US.
  • Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65. The risk of having a stroke more than doubles each decade after the age of 55.
  • Strokes can and do occur at any age. Nearly one-fourth of strokes occur in people under the age of 65.
  • High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke.

According to the CDC:

  • Someone in the US has a stroke every 40 seconds.
  • Nearly 1 in 4 strokes are in people who have had a previous stroke.
  • About 87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked.
  • High cholesterol and smoking are leading causes of stroke. Two thirds of America’s have at least one of these conditions or habits.

According to strokesmart.org:

  • Some stroke survivors are locked-in after a stroke. Locked-in syndrome is a rare condition that most often occurs after a basilar artery stroke. A basilar artery stroke is considered the most devastating stroke, especially if someone survives from it. People who have had a basilar artery stroke can have paralysis from head to toe, hence where the term “locked-in” came from.

According to sciencedaily.com:

  • One in three Americans can’t name even a single stroke warning sign.
  • Time is brain. During a stroke, 32,000 brain cells per second (1.9 million per minute) die. But if a patient receives timely treatment, the damage can be minimized.

According to goredforwomen.org:

  • About 40 percent of stroke deaths occur in males, and 60 percent in females.

According to verywell.com:

  • Over 43% of people over 85 have suffered a silent stroke.