ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996                   TAG: 9605240029
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 10   EDITION: METRO 

FACTS ABOUT STROKE

Stroke is the nation's third leading killer; 150,000 die from stroke each year.

550,000 people have strokes each year, including 25,000 under age 45.

The Southeast has a higher-than-average death rate from stroke; Virginia ranks No. 9 in the top 10 states for highest stroke deaths; South Carolina is No. 1.

Stroke kills more American women each year than breast cancer; women account for 43 percent of the victims and 60 percent of the deaths.

Among women under age 45, stroke (brain attack) is more common than heart attack.

Women over age 30 who smoke and take high-estrogen oral contraceptives have a stroke risk 22 times higher than average.

African Americans have double the stroke rate of white Americans; they have a disproportionately high incidence of risk factors for stroke.

Risk factors are hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, sickle cell anemia, heavy drinking, heart disease, cocaine/crack use, and a previous stroke.

Warning signs of stroke:

Sudden weakness or numbness of face, arm, leg on one side of the body

Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye

Loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech

Sudden, severe headaches with no apparent cause

Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness, or sudden falls, especially along with the other symptoms.

- Source: American Heart Association, National Stroke Association

LENGTH: Short :   50 lines
ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC:  Chart by KRT: Types and causes of stroke. color.