Strokes kill about 150,000 Americans each year and are the leading cause of adult, serious, long-term disability in the United States. Approximately 4.4 million stroke survivors are alive today. Estimates are that stroke accounts for more than half of all patients hospitalized for acute neurological disease. Twenty-eight percent of annual brain attack victims are under age 65.
Strokes occur in men more than women, but women die more often as a result of stroke.
In 1996, females comprised 60.9 percent of stroke fatalities. Stroke is the second leading cause of death in American women ages 45-64, killing more females than breast cancer. This information is not intended to be a substitute for individual medical advice in diagnosing or treating a health problem. Please consult with your health care provider about your health care concerns.