05/26/2025
May is National Stroke Awareness Month, devoted to raising public awareness about preventing strokes, identifying stroke symptoms, and stressing the importance of quick treatment. A stroke is a serious medical emergency that can be life-threatening or cause long-term disabilities.
Prevalence and Incidence:
Annual strokes: Over 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year, with about 610,000 being first strokes.
Mortality: Stroke kills about 140,000 Americans each year, accounting for 1 in every 20 deaths.
Survivor population: Nearly 7 million stroke survivors live in the U.S.
Preventable: Nearly 80% of all strokes are preventable through healthy lifestyle changes and managing risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking.
