Stroke is now the second leading cause of death worldwide and could be the leading cause of death by 2030. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data released by the American Stroke Association at the World Stroke Congress in October, heart disease is still the number one killer. In the United States, stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability.
Although cancer deaths outnumber deaths from stroke (see chart), the WHO considers it inappropriate to compare all types of cancer, a broad disease category, with stroke, which results from cerebrovascular disease.
Here's how the numbers break down globally.
Because stroke is often preventable, the American Stroke Association urges people to visit http://www.strokeassociation.org to learn more about stroke prevention.