Is it true that stroke is responsible for more than six million deaths every year?

Yes, it is. According to the World Health Organization and other leading stroke experts, stroke claims 6.2 million lives each year.

An estimated 17.3 million people died from CVDs in 2008, representing 30% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, an estimated 7.3 million were due to coronary heart disease and 6.2 million were due to stroke.
 
Is it true that stroke kills more people each year than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria put together?

Yes, it is. (1) In 2008, AIDS-related deaths totaled 2.0 million (1.7 million – 2.4 million); (2) 1.8 million people died from TB in 2008, including 500,000 people with HIV; (3) there were 247 million cases of malaria in 2006, causing nearly one million deaths, mostly among African children.

According to the World Health Organization and other leading stroke experts, stroke claims 6.2 million lives each year.
 
Is it true that stroke also attacks children?

Yes, it is. Stroke also attacks children, including newborns.
 
Is it true that most strokes are not painful?

Yes it is. Most strokes are not painful. Eighty percent of strokes are caused by a blood clot in the brain and usually do not hurt, although some do.

Stroke cuts off oxygen to a part of the brain. Brain cells begin to die but this is usually not painful. Don't ignore symptoms because they don't hurt. Only 20% of strokes are caused by bleeding inside the brain, and this type of stroke is usually very painful.
 
Is it true that on a global scale, stroke claims a life every 10 seconds?

Yes, it is. Worldwide, it is estimated that six people die from a stroke every 60 seconds.
 
Is it true that every two seconds, someone, somewhere in the world is having a stroke?

Yes it is. There an estimated 30 incidences of stroke per 60 seconds worldwide. Majority are referred to as "silent" strokes. These are the most common type of strokes. The word "silent" is a misnomer. When subjects with "silent" infarcts are examined they have subtle neuropsychological and neurological deficits.

An article from the Framingham Study suggests that 1 in 10 individuals, stroke free and living in the community, with a mean age of 62±9 years have a "silent" stroke.

If ignored, little strokes could spell big trouble. One subclinical stroke is associated with increased chance of having others and of experiencing a clinical stroke and/or dementia.

The combination of subclinical strokes and subclinical Alzheimer lesions may be a background for the association of stroke and dementia given that the lifetime risk of developing either or both is one in three.
 
Is it true that 80% of all people who have suffered from a stroke now live in low and mid-income countries?

 Yes, it is. The burden of stroke now disproportionately affects individuals living in resource-poor countries. From 2000 to 2008, the overall stroke incidence rates in low to middle income countries exceeded that of high-income countries, by 20%.
 
Is it true that the incidence of stroke is growing and that a disproportionate burden is unfolding in resource-constrained countries where awareness of prevention, care and support is lowest?

Yes it is. Today, two-thirds of all individuals that have suffered from a stroke live in developing countries where health systems are already challenged to the limit.
 
 Is it true that stroke is the second leading cause of death for people above the age of 60 years?

Yes, it is. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stroke is the leading cause of death for people above the age of 60 and the fifth leading cause in people aged 15-59.
 
 Is it true that most people do not recognize the first symptoms presented by stroke?

Correct. Approximately 70% of patients do not correctly recognize their TIA or minor stroke, 30% delay seeking medical attention for >24 hours, regardless of age, sex, social class, or educational level, and approximately 30% of early recurrent strokes occur before seeking attention.

Without more effective public education of all demographic groups, the full potential of acute prevention will not be realized.
 
Is it true that high blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke?

Yes, it is. It is very important to find out if you are at risk for high blood pressure, diabetes or high blood cholesterol.
 
 Is it true that stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide?

Yes, it is. Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide.

According to The Lancet 28 Nov 2009 issue, stroke is the second cause of disabilities in low-mid income countries. Dementia is no. 1. Together, dementia and stroke account for one third of all long-term disabilities worldwide.

The WHO Global Burden of Disease (2004) Update (re-published in 2008) also provides data on stroke disabilities (moderate to severe disabilities) worldwide.

Source: World Stroke Campaign; World Stroke Organization