There are a lot of different factors regarding strokes but most often if you have had one you are at increased risk of having another. Below is a list of statistics of stroke from the American Heart Stroke Association. There are also lots that you can do to prevent having another stroke. There is no telling which one will be fatal and a person can actually have many storkes. Stroke Statistics Stroke killed 157,804 people in 2003. It s the third largest cause of death, ranking behind diseases of the heart and all forms of cancer. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States (preliminary mortality). About 5,500,000 stroke survivors are alive today. 2,400,000 are males and 3,000,000 are females. Data from GCNKSS studies show that about 700,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. About 500,000 of these are first attacks and 200,000 are recurrent attacks. In 2003, females accounted for 61.0 percent of stroke deaths. From 1993 to 2003 the death rate from stroke declined 18.5 percent, and the actual number of stroke deaths declined 0.7 percent (preliminary). The 2003 death rates per 100,000 population for stroke were 51.9 for white males and 78.8 for black males, and 50.5 for white females and 69.1 for black females (preliminary). For stroke information, call the American Stroke Association at 1-888-4-STROKE. For information on life after stroke, ask for the Stroke Family Support Network. Related AHA and ASA publications: Targeting the Facts... heart disease, stroke and risks Stroke: Are You at Risk? (also in Spanish on ASA Web site) Warning Signs of Stroke (Quick and Easy Reading) (also in Spanish on ASA Web site) ¿Ha Oído lo Último? (in Spanish) Smoking and Your Risk of Stroke High Blood Pressure and Stroke How Stroke Affects Behavior Living with Disability after Stroke Being a Stroke Family Caregiver Caring for Someone with Aphasia Sex After Stroke We re Talking About Women and Stroke (Quick and Easy Reading) (also in Spanish) Statistical Fact Sheets Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update Stroke Family Support Network Packets Coping With Changes — Behavior and Rehabilitation Taking On a New Challenge Reducing Your Risk — Prevention Supporting Stroke Families — Group Leader Taking Care — Caregiver Living With Aphasia Helping Your Patients — Professional Hope this helped in some small way! Take Care