The StrokeNet Weblog

Everybody knows that stroke is the number 1 cause of serious permanent disability.  They also know that stroke is the number 3 cause of death and every 45 seconds someone has one; between 500000 and 750000 Americans have a stroke every year.  These are common well known statistics about stroke but what about the other statistics that are little known?  This data is almost equally compelling and to some people even more important. 

What about the fact that stroke affects 225000 people per year under age 45?  I believe this number.  I was only 36 when I had my stroke.  Practically every stroke survivor that I have met on-line since 1995 was under 40.  What does this number mean?  Why so many young people? 

I have a theory about this.  It is not based on scientific data.  It comes intuitively from dealing with literally thousands of stroke survivors through on-line chat sessions and message board forums for over 12 years.  Stress… stress is DEFINITELY a factor in strokes for young people.  I cannot think of a single stroke survivor that did not bring up their stressful work environment as being a large factor before them having a stroke. 

What does that tell you?  Of course the work place will not acknowledge their part in causing stroke.  I KNOW that too much stress played some role in causing my stroke; I was working 12 to 14 hours nearly every day of the week for months.  I was severely stressed out and it almost killed me! 

Take the fact that four out of five families will be touched by stroke.  That is 80%; 80 out of 100 families are affected by stroke.  That is a very large number when you think about it.  Only 20 people out of 100 are not affected.  Practically everyone you know, 4 out of 5 people, will know someone that had a stroke.  This number is extremely scary! 

Here is an interesting statistic; amongst women over 45, stroke is more common than heart attack.   Also, every year, stroke kills twice as many women as women with breast cancer.  Who would of thunk?  You hear so much hype about heart attack and breast cancer!  If you factor in stroke with these two and then just look at women affected by stroke, the seriousness of this will blow you away!  Why doesn’t stroke get more hype? 

Did you know that the incidence of stroke is double of that between African Americans and white Americans?  Whoa!  That means that of the 750000 strokes per year that about 500000 are African Americans and only 250000 are white.  Stroke kills 160000 per year and this statistic means that over 100000 of them are black. 

Does this mean that most people have higher incidents of high blood pressure?  Of course, hypertension is a factor in 70% of strokes.  This equates to 350000 cases of high blood pressure amongst the black community and 175000 amongst whites.  What in the world is going on with us?  I think that the lack of exercise and our fatty diets are the cause. 

These are just a few statistics people need to know about.  Statistics can tell a very powerful story.  All statistics about stroke are important.  Look at the statistics on our stroke education website.  I have pulled all of the statistics that I have talked about from this website.  Check out http://www.strokeawareness.org/strokestatistics/.   While you are there it would not hurt to take a look around.  There is LOTS of good information! 

Filed under: Stroke Awareness | Tagged: stroke, Stroke Awareness, stroke statistics, strokenet, The Stroke Network |