What You Should Know About Stroke

Page: 1 2 3 4 (of 4)	Next

By Christian Millman

A stroke can affect anyone-young or old, black or white, male or female. Don't be its next victim. Here's what you need to know.

No one expects to have a stroke, but half a million Americans will have their first one this year. Another 200,000 will have a repeat stroke. In fact, stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, says Richard Lee, M.D., surgical director of the Center for Atrial Fibrillation at Northwestern School of Medicine in Chicago. It kills more than 160,000 people a year.

Despite its high occurrence, stroke has a low profile among major diseases. In part, that’s because stroke risk builds up quietly, causing no real problems until the actual attack. Mark Johnson, M.D., associate professor of neurology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, says it’s a challenge to get people concerned about stroke. “We don’t get the same sense of urgency that we’d get from having chest pains,” he says.

Act Fast
When stroke strikes, time becomes a precious commodity. Too many people brush off the symptoms as something that will pass. All the while, brain tissues are being starved of blood and are dying. If you, or someone you know, experience any of the symptoms of stroke, call 911 or get that person to a hospital immediately.