Stroke deaths are rising in some parts of America

Every year, nearly 800,000 Americans have a stroke, and more than 140,000 die from it. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and one of the primary causes of serious disability among Americans.

The number of Americans who die from stroke has been dropping since the 1960s, but a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that progress is stalling—possibly due to still-high rates of obesity and hypertension.