Stroke Statistics
- In 2018, 1 in 6 cardiovascular disease deaths was due to stroke.
- In the United States, someone has a stroke every 40 seconds . Every 4 minutes someone dies from a stroke.
- Each year, more than 795,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke. About 610,000 of these were first or new strokes.
- About 185,000 strokes - nearly one in four - occur in people who have had a stroke before.
- About 87% of strokes are ischemic strokes, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked.
- Between 2014 and 2015, stroke-related costs in the United States reached nearly $46 billion . This total includes the cost of health care services, medications to treat strokes and days missed from work.
- Stroke is a leading cause of severe long-term disability. 2Stroke reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors aged 65 and older.
Stroke Statistics by Race and Ethnicity
- Stroke is the leading cause of death in the United States, but the risk of stroke varies by race and ethnicity.
- The risk of a first stroke among black people is nearly twice that of white people, and black people have the highest death rate from stroke.
- Although stroke death rates for all racial/ethnic groups have been declining for decades, the death rate among Hispanics has increased since 2013 .
Stroke risk varies by age
- The risk of stroke increases with age, but stroke can — and does — occur at any age.
- In 2009, 34% of hospitalized stroke patients were younger than 65 years .
Early action is important for stroke
Learn the warning signs and symptoms of stroke so you can act quickly if you or someone you know may be having a stroke. Chances of survival are greater when emergency treatment is started quickly.
- In one survey, the majority of respondents (93%) believed that sudden numbness on one side was a symptom of stroke. Only 38% knew all the major symptoms and knew to call 9-1-1 if someone was having a stroke.
- Patients who arrive at the emergency department within 3 hours of first symptom onset generally have lower rates of disability 3 months after stroke than patients who receive delayed treatment.
Americans at risk for stroke
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and diabetes are causes of stroke. One in three American adults has at least one of these conditions or habits.
You can take steps to prevent stroke.
