Every 40 seconds, someone in America has a stroke.
Every 3.5 minutes, someone dies of a stroke.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain can’t get the blood and oxygen it needs, so the brain cells die. Stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of serious disability nationwide and around the world – but it doesn’t have to be. According to the American Stroke Association, 80 percent of strokes may be preventable.