Strokes By the Numbers

40

The number of seconds where another person has a stroke in the United States. Strokes are a leading cause of death and disability in this country.

38%

The percentage of hospitalized stroke patients who are less than 65 years old. It's true that your risk for a stroke increases with age — but strokes can happen in people of any age. Including young people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

3

The optimal number of hours that some stroke treatments should begin after one starts showing stroke symptoms. A change in blood flow can result in brain cells dying or becoming damaged within minutes. So getting emergency medical care to someone showing the signs of a stroke not only can save their lives — it can greatly reduce the chances one will become disabled and improve their chances of recovery.

If someone shows any of the following symptoms, call 911 and get that person immediate medical help:

• Sudden numbness, weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Problems walking, dizziness or loss of coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Review a full list of stroke sign and symptoms.

More Than 40%

The percentage decrease in the number of heart disease and stroke deaths in Stearns County in the past 20 years. Historically, there have been similar decreases in Kandiyohi, Wright and Todd counties. While great improvements have been made to better the heart health of those living in Central and Southwestern Minnesota — these trends require hard work to maintain.

There is a lot you can do decrease your own risk of a heart attack or stroke. These include quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and exercising. But it can also make a big difference to monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. And if you are diabetic, keep good control of your blood sugar.

Know the full list of stroke risk factors and know how to reduce your own stroke risk.