Stroke Affects 15 Million People Worldwide

This year, 15 million people will suffer a stroke. Five million will die and another five million will be permanently disabled.

This grim forecast comes from the World Health Organization which said that high blood pressure is responsible for over 12 million strokes worldwide. Other risk ...This year, 15 million people will suffer a stroke. Five million will die and another five million will be permanently disabled.

This grim forecast comes from the World Health Organization which said that high blood pressure is responsible for over 12 million strokes worldwide. Other risk factors are a family history of stroke, age, sex (women are more likely to die of stroke than men), high blood cholesterol levels, cigarette smoking, diabetes, obesity, the use of birth control pills, hormone therapy, heavy drinking, the use of illicit drugs like cocaine, and uncontrolled stress.

In the United States alone, stroke is responsible for more than 150,000 deaths a year, making it the third leading cause of death next to heart disease and cancer. Fifty percent of those deaths usually occur outside the hospital, according to the Internet Stroke Center, a non-profit, educational service of the Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis.
A stroke is the sudden interruption in the blood supply of the brain. This usually occurs when a blood vessel bursts (hemorrhagic stroke) or is blocked by a blood clot or some other particle (ischemic stroke). Of the two, ischemic strokes are the most common.

The symptoms of stroke are sudden weakness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body. Other signs are sudden numbness on one side of the body, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or a severe headache.

Since this occurs rapidly, stroke is also called a brain attack. If symptoms last for less than an hour, this is called a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke.

To prevent strokes, keep your blood pressure under control, lower cholesterol and fat intake, avoid smoking, drink alcohol moderately, watch your weight, exercise regularly, and manage stress. To keep in shape, take Phenocal, a safe, natural, and effective weight loss supplement that boosts your metabolism, suppresses your appetite, reduces food cravings, and increases energy levels for a leaner, healthier you. Visit http://tinyurl.com/8jkw6ma for more information.