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Stroke is
third leading cause of death in
United States and
leading cause of serious, long-term disability in adults. Although stroke is a disease of
brain, it can affect
entire body. The effects of a stroke range from mild to severe and include paralysis, problems with thinking, difficulty with speaking, chronic pain, and emotional problems like depression.
The length of time to recover from a stroke depends, of course, on its severity. Fifty to 70 percent of stroke survivors regain functional independence, but 15 to 30 percent are permanently disabled. Four million Americans are currently living with
effects of a stroke, and
National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate that 700,000 Americans will suffer a stroke each year.
In addition to
lives that are drastically changed, stroke places a tremendous health burden on our society in terms of economic costs. The National Stroke Association estimates stroke costs
U.S. $43 billion a year.
The best treatment for stroke is prevention. There are several risk factors that increase your chance of suffering a stroke. High blood pressure, heart disease, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and family history of strokes. If you smoke--quit! If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or high cholesterol, getting them under control--and keeping them at safe levels--will greatly reduce your chances of having a stroke.
If you or someone you know has already suffered a stroke, it is important to understand that many therapy options and medications are available to provide for a faster and more thorough recovery. The best start is to gain as much knowledge as possible about
condition and
treatments. Do your own research to obtain
information you need to make intelligent stroke decisions. As has been said many times, "Knowledge is Power," and this is certainly true when you talk about strokes.
