Stroke – Top Ten Facts

1. Stroke is the third most common cause of death, after cancer and ischemic heart disease.
2. It is also the most prominent cause of physical deformity
3. Stroke has a yearly incidence of 180-300 per 100,000, in the United States.
4. Its incidence is accelerating in developing countries due to unhealthy lifestyles.
5. 2/3 of stroke victims are above 60 years old.
6. 1/5 of the victims die within a month of its occurrence. Half the survivors become physically deformed.
7. A damage in the left side of the brain may result in paralysis of the right side of the body; a damage on the right side, paralyzes the left side.
8. Hypertension accounts for 30-50% of stroke risk.
9. Patients with diabetes mellitus are 2-3 times more predisposed to stroke.
10. Stroke can occur due to a disruption in blood supply or due to a blood vessel damage.