Strokes can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Learn how
to safeguard yourself against stroke. Every 40 seconds, someone
in the United States has a stroke. In 2008 alone, more than
133,000 Americans died from stroke—or one person every four
minutes— making it the fourth leading cause of death in the
United States. A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs
when a blockage stops the flow of blood to the brain or when a
blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. Although many people
think of stroke as a condition that affects only older adults,
strokes can and do occur in people of all ages. In fact, nearly
a quarter of all strokes occur in people younger than age 65.
Each year, almost 800,000 strokes occur in the United States.
Strokes often lead to serious, life-changing complications that
include: • Paralysis or weakness on one side of the body. •
Problems with thinking, awareness, attention, learning,
judgment, and memory. • Problems understanding or forming
speech. • Difficulty controlling