Stroke Facts | cdc.gov

Stroke Facts | cdc.gov

• Stroke can happen to anyone, but African-Americans and Hispanics face more prevention challenges and are more likely to have a stroke.
• About 1 in 3 US adults has high blood pressure. African-Americans have higher rates than do whites or Hispanics, and they tend to develop high blood pressure at an earlier age.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Use CDC's resources to make a difference in your community.

Stroke Facts

The country's highest death rates from stroke are in the southeastern United States.2

Find facts and statistics about stroke in the United States.

Download the Stroke Fact Sheet[PDF–426K]

Stroke Statistics

• Stroke kills more than 130,000 Americans each year—that’s 1 out of every 20 deaths.1
• Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Every 4 minutes, someone dies of stroke.2
• Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes.
• About 185,00 strokes—nearly 1 of 4—are in people who have had a previous stroke.2
• About 87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked.3
• Stroke costs the United States an estimated $33 billion each year.2 This total includes the cost of health care services, medicines to treat stroke, and missed days of work.
• Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.2 Stroke reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors age 65 and over.2

Stroke Statistics by Race and Ethnicity

• Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death for Americans, but the risk of having a stroke varies with race and ethnicity.
• Risk of having a first stroke is nearly twice as high for blacks as for whites, and blacks are more likely to die following a stroke than whites are.2 
• Hispanics’ risk for stroke falls between that of whites and blacks.2 
• American Indians, Alaska Natives, and blacks are more likely to have a stroke than are other groups.3

Stroke Risk Varies by Age

• Stroke risk increases with age, but strokes can—and do—occur at any age.
• In 2009, 34% of people hospitalized for stroke were less than 65 years old.4

Early Action Is Important for Stroke

Know the warning signs and symptoms of stroke so that you can act fast if you or someone you know might be having a stroke. The chances of survival are greater when emergency treatment begins quickly.

• In one survey, most respondents—93%—recognized sudden numbness on one side as a symptom of stroke. Only 38% were aware of all major symptoms and knew to call 9-1-1 when someone was having a stroke.5
• Patients who arrive at the emergency room within 3 hours of their first symptoms often have less disability 3 months after a stroke than those who received delayed care.6

Americans at Risk for Stroke

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are leading causes of stroke. Two thirds of Americans have at least one of these conditions or habits.7 

You can take steps to prevent stroke.

More Information

From CDC:

Learn about CDC programs that address stroke.

• Know the Facts about Stroke[PDF–271K]
• Stroke
• Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
• High Cholesterol

From other organizations:

• What You Need to Know About Stroke—National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Know Stroke: Know the Signs, Act in Time–NINDS
• Mind Your Risks–National Institutes of Health
• Stroke–Medline Plus
• Brain Attack Coalition
• Cryptogenic Stroke Public Health Conference Report 2015
• Internet Stroke Center
• Stroke Resource Center–American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
• World Stroke Organization

References

1. CDC, NCHS. Underlying Cause of Death 1999–2014 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released 2015. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999–2013, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
2. Mozzafarian D, Benjamin EJ, Go AS, Arnett DK, Blaha MJ, Cushman M, et al., on behalf of the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2016 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2016;133(4):e38–360.
3. Mozaffarian D, Benjamin EJ, Go AS, Arnett DK, Blaha MJ, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2015 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2015;131(4):e29–322.
4. CDC. Prevalence of stroke — United States, 2006–2010. MMWR 2012;61:379–82.
5. Hall MJ, Levant S, DeFrances CJ. Hospitalization for stroke in U.S. hospitals, 1989–2009. NCHS data brief, No. 95. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2012.
6. Fang J, Keenan NL, Ayala C, Dai S, Merritt R, Denny CH. Awareness of stroke warning symptoms—13 states and the District of Columbia, 2005. MMWR 2008;57:481–5.
7. Berry JD, Dyer A, Cai X, Garside DB, Ning H, Thomas A, et al. Lifetime risks of cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med 2012;366:321–9.
8. CDC. Vital signs: awareness and treatment of uncontrolled hypertension among adults—United States, 2003–2010. MMWR 2012;61(35):703–9.