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National Stroke Awareness Month --- May 2007
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. During 2007, an estimated 700,000 persons in the United States will have
a stroke, and approximately 160,000 will die from stroke
(1). Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability,
with estimated direct and indirect costs totaling $62.7 billion
(1).
Preventing and controlling stroke risk factors (e.g., high blood pressure, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, high
blood cholesterol levels, diabetes, tobacco use, alcohol use, physical inactivity, and obesity) are the most important steps in
reducing a person's risk for having a stroke
(2). Recognizing the warning signs of stroke and immediately calling for emergency
medical care are critical to preventing death and disability in persons having a stroke.
CDC supports programs in 32 states and the District of Columbia that emphasize multiple strategies for targeting
stroke and its risk factors in various settings and for ensuring that patients receive quality care. CDC funds four state-based
stroke registries in the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry. The long-term goal of this program is to ensure that all
persons in the United States receive the
highest quality acute stroke care that is available to reduce untimely deaths, prevent disability, and avoid recurrent
strokes. Additional information about this program and information about stroke warning signs, prevention, and care is available
at http://www.cdc.gov/stroke,
http://www.strokeassociation.org,
http://www.stroke.org, and
http://www.ninds.nih.gov.
References
American Heart Association. Heart disease and stroke statistics -- 2007 update. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; 2007. Available at
http://www.americanheart.org.
Goldstein LB, Adams R, Alberts MJ, et al. Primary prevention of ischemic stroke. Stroke 2006;37:1583--634.
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Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content
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