Reviewed 3/11/2024
Stroke: Myth or fact?
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, every 3 minutes, 14 seconds, an American dies from stroke, accounting for 1 out of every 21 deaths in the country. In addition, about 610,000 people have a stroke for the first time each year. Test yourself to see if you know the facts about this condition—and how to respond to it.
Myth or fact: A stroke is a type of heart attack.
Myth. A stroke is an attack on the brain, not the heart. Most strokes occur because a clot is blocking a blood vessel to the brain. Less frequently, strokes occur because a blood vessel in the brain has ruptured.
Myth or fact: It's hard to tell if someone is having a stroke.
Myth. FAST is an acronym that can help people identify when a stroke is occurring and respond quickly. It stands for:
Facial droop.
Arm or leg weakness.
Speech difficulty.
Time to call 911 to get that person to the hospital as fast as possible.
Myth or fact: After calling 911 for help, you should give an aspirin to the person having a stroke.
Myth. That instruction might be OK for a heart attack if the operator says to, but it doesn't work for a stroke. In fact, aspirin could worsen the situation if the person is having a bleeding stroke.
Myth or fact: A stroke can occur gradually, even over several days.
Myth. Strokes occur suddenly, usually without warning. If there is a warning, it comes in the form of a temporary stroke—called a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or warning stroke. Although symptoms of a TIA are temporary, you should take them seriously and see a doctor.
Myth or fact: You can recover from a stroke.
Fact. Most strokes are caused by blood clots. These clots can be broken up and blood flow to the brain restored if you get to the hospital quickly. After that, a stroke rehabilitation program can help you recover some or possibly all of the abilities affected by the stroke.
While it's possible to recover from a stroke, it's also possible to help prevent one from occurring. The first step is to find out your risk for stroke and talk with a doctor about ways to reduce it.
- American Heart Association. "Aspirin and Heart Disease." https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/treatment-of-a-heart-attack/aspirin-and-heart-disease.
- American Stroke Association. "Ischemic Stroke (Clots)." https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/types-of-stroke/ischemic-stroke-clots.
- American Stroke Association. "Stroke Symptoms." https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-symptoms.
- American Stroke Association. "TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)." https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/types-of-stroke/tia-transient-ischemic-attack.
- American Stroke Association. "Why Getting Quick Stroke Treatment is Important." https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/types-of-stroke/is-getting-quick-stroke-treatment-important.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Stroke Facts." https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm.