Stroke is third largest cause of death, ranking behind diseases of the heart and all forms of cancer. Strokes kill about 150,000 Americans each year and are the leading cause of adult, serious, long-term disability in the United States. Approximately 4,400,000 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. All rights reserved. All information is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Use of this online service is subject to the disclaimer and the terms and conditions .