A U.S. Adult Has a Stroke Every 40 Seconds - National Stroke Association

A U.S. Adult Has a Stroke Every 40 Seconds
Thursday, October 27, 2011

UPI.com

Someone in the world dies from stroke every 6 seconds, and someone has a stroke every 40 seconds in the United States, federal health officials say.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta—speaking ahead of World Stroke Day, Saturday—says Americans should take immediate action to reduce their risk for stroke—one of the leading causes of death in the United States. About 137,000 Americans die of stroke every year, Frieden said.

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.

"We can do so much more to prevent strokes, and the new Million Hearts initiative offers opportunities for individuals, providers, communities and businesses to apply tools we have readily available today to reduce strokes and heart attacks," Frieden said in a statement.