A stroke is damage or death of brain cells caused by interruption of blood flow. The most common “ischemic stroke” (88%) is due to blockage in an artery. A “hemorrhagic stroke” occurs when a blood vessel ruptures within or near the brain.
Stroke is the number one cause of disability, the second leading cause of dementia, and the third leading cause of death in adults. Stroke can happen at any age; even children and young adults have strokes. Significantly, 70% of strokes are preventable.
Southern California is a region of 21 million people, and the number of people experiencing a stroke each year is 46,000 and the number of survivors and families living with the effects of stroke is 350,000.
Of those who have strokes, 22% die, 50% have hemiparesis, 30% are unable to walk without assistance, 26% depend on others in activities of daily living, 19% have aphasia, 40% are depressed, and 26% go to a nursing home.
However, statistics do not convey the personal distress of those who live with the consequences of stroke. Stroke disrupts every aspect of meaningful life including physical, psychological, and social functioning; communication, relationships, self-worth, activities of daily living, work, interests, vitality and vigor, family stability and finances.
Also, for every survivor, on average, there are four others who are also impacted as family, caregivers, friends, and employers. Family members assume additional roles and responsibilities, even as they cope with the illness of a loved one. What does it mean for a survivor and a family to suffer a stroke? Here are descriptions of both stroke and recovery in the words of those who have experienced it.
“Our life was turned upside down. This was not the life we hoped for. I thought stroke was like the flu and would be over in four weeks. I didn’t realize that the effects would last forever. I was afraid and depressed. I thought my life was over.”
“Now that I’ve learned about stroke, I can accept what has happened and I know how to get on with my life. I have capabilities and I can work around the limitations. I have discovered new things to do. I am grateful for what I have. My life has new meaning. There must be a reason I’m still here.”
Since 1974, the Stroke Association has played a vital role in solutions to these challenges, and there has been much progress. Today, with advances in knowledge and services, stroke can be prevented, successfully treated, and those who have been affected by stroke can have satisfying lives.
- Seventy percent of strokes can be prevented through lifestyle modification, attention to risk factors, and basic medical care and adherence.
- Death and injury by stroke can be reduced by 30% if the signs of stroke are promptly recognized and patients are immediately transported to a Primary Stroke Center.
- Survivors and families can learn that there is no endpoint to recovery with continuous effort, and that life can be enjoyed even as they recover.
Significantly, even with advances, less than 10% of Southern Californians access optimal prevention, treatment, and recovery. The Stroke Association strives to make this progress available to all.
At Stroke Association, no one faces stroke alone