In medicine, a loss of blood flow to part of the brain, which damages brain tissue. Strokes are caused by blood clots and broken blood vessels in the brain. Symptoms include dizziness, numbness, weakness on one side of the body, and problems with talking, writing, or understanding language. The risk of stroke is increased by high blood pressure, older age, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, atherosclerosis (a build-up of fatty material and plaque inside the coronary arteries), and a family history of stroke.

While the death rate from stroke is lower among Hispanics, American Indians, and Asians and Pacific Islanders than Whites, African Americans suffer disproportionately. African Americans are almost twice as likely to have a first-time stroke as Whites. They are almost one and half times more likely to die from the condition.

Quick Facts

African American adults are 30% more likely than their White adult counterparts to have a stroke.
In general, American Indian/Alaska Native adults are 60% more likely to have a stroke than their White adult counterparts.
In general, Asians/Pacific Islander adults are less likely than white adults to have suffered a stroke, and they are less likely to die from a stroke.
In 2003, Hispanic men were 20% less likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic white men.
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