Stroke is also a major cause of hospitalization and disability. In Georgia, there were over 21,000 hospitalizations for stroke in 1996. A stroke occurs when a break or blockage of a blood vessel interrupts the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the brain.
Strokes can cause loss of muscle control, numbness, unconsciousness, or death.
The extent of recovery varies greatly among survivors, ranging from complete recovery to severe paralysis. Of these, high blood pressure is the most important risk factor, and controlling high blood pressure can reduce the risk for stroke by as much as 50 percent. By adopting healthier lifestyles, Georgians can reduce much of the burden of death and disability from stroke. In Georgia and in the US, death rates from stroke have declined sharply in the past two decades. However, in the past four years, the trend has reversed direction and has begun to increase.