Quick Facts
Stroke is basically a heart attack that begins in the brain. Arteries in the brain can develop blood clots, which leads to a sudden loss of blood flow to the brain.
- Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes
- Stroke kills about 140,000 Americans each year—that’s 1 out of every 20 deaths
- Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.
- Stroke reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors age 65 and over. (Center for Disease Control)