Four million Americans are living with the effects of stroke. About one-third have mild impairments, another third are moderately impaired and the remainder are severely impaired. In 1993, the U.S. stroke mortality rate increased for the first time in four decades from 26.2 deaths per 100,000 to 26.5 deaths per 100,000. The mortality rate inched up again in 1995 to 26.7. Statistics for 1996 show that the stroke death rate has declined slightly to 26.4 with a total of 159,942 deaths.
Stroke remains the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Death rates for the other two leading killers, heart disease and cancer are decreasing at a higher rate. In addition, from the 1960s to 1992, the dramatic decrease in stroke mortality paralleled the decrease in high blood pressure attributed to antihypertensive medication, and may now be paralleling increasing noncompliance to high blood pressure medication. 19 percent were unaware that there are things you can do to help prevent a stroke. Only 40 percent would call 911 immediately if they were having a stroke. Two-thirds were unaware of the short time frame in which a person must seek treatment.