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WORLD STROKE DAY

cdc_logo_nyreblog_com_.pngOctober 29th is World Stroke Day

Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States.1 Over 795,000 strokes occur annually in the United States, with an estimated cost of more than $73 billion.1 The theme for this year's World Stroke Day is "1 in 6"-1 in 6 people worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime; every 6 seconds, someone somewhere will die from stroke.2

This campaign not only stresses how prevalent stroke is but also highlights the fact that stroke can be prevented and that stroke survivors can recover and regain their quality of life with care and support.

The campaign is asking people to commit to 6 ways to reduce their likelihood of having a stroke.

  1. Know one's personal risk factors, including diagnosed high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol.
  2. Be physically active and exercise regularly.
  3. Avoid obesity by eating a healthy diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
  4. Limit alcohol consumption.
  5. Avoid cigarette smoke. People who smoke should seek help to stop now.
  6. Learn to recognize the warning signs of a stroke and call 9-1-1 right away if someone is suspected of having a stroke.

CDC addresses stroke prevention through state-based programs to prevent heart disease and stroke, through the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry , and through many other partnerships. More information about stroke and about what can be done to prevent it is available at http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/ , as well as at CDC's Genomics and Stroke Awareness page.

More information about World Stroke Day 2010 is available at http://www.worldstrokecampaign.org/Pages/Home.aspx .


References

  1. Lloyd-Jones D, Adams R, Brown TM, Carnethon M, et al.  Heart disease and stroke statistics 2010 update. A report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Circulation. 2010;121:e46-e215.)
  2. World Stroke Organization.  http://www.worldstrokecampaign.org/Pages/Home.aspx   Accessed September 1, 2010.
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