Facts about Stroke Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and is a leading cause of disability. About 500,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year and 150,000 die from stroke. African-Americans are at higher risk to have a stroke.
Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks an artery to the brain.
Clots may form in the brain or travel from the heart. Strokes may be prevented with proper treatment. The study will compare the effectiveness of two medications, aspirin and ticlopidine, in prevention of recurrent stroke. Both of these drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for stroke prevention. These drugs may be particularly beneficial for stroke prevention in African-Americans, however, it is uncertain which one is more effective.