This project was developed with support from the Illinois Department of Public Health with funds associated with Illinois Public Act 102- 102-1070.
What is a stroke?
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States2.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die2.
How does stroke affect us?
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States according to the American Stroke Association1 and American Heart Association2.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability, and reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors age 65 and older3.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention risk of having a first stroke is nearly twice as high for Blacks as for Whites; Blacks have the highest rate of death due to stroke; strokes are happening at younger ages; and risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes are happening at younger ages.
About 80% of strokes are preventable; and reducing stroke risk factors and improving the quality of stroke care are needed to continue the decline in stroke deaths2.
References
1American Heart Association
2American Stroke Association
3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention