A stroke occurs when blood clot blocks blood vessels in the brain. It interrupts blood flow to the vital area of the brain, resulting in a stroke or "brain attack," which results in death of some brain cells. Depending on the area affected, the victim's speech, movement, and memory are impaired.²
Before I get into the main topic, let me shed a brief light on the background, significance, and limitations of cerebrovascular disease. Historically, the highest mortality rates for strokes are in the Southern States due to sedimentary lifestyles and dietary habits. High blood pressure, physical inactivity, improper diet, and smoking are among the lead risk factors. In addition, there are two types of strokes, hemorrhagic and ischemic, with ischemic being responsible for 65% of strokes.¹ Numerous data exist on the severity of cerebrovascular diseases, dating back as far as 1950. However, the most recent data seems to reflect very little variation between Maine and the Nation. Table 1 is a chronic disease indicator using the data …show more content…
The ten-year National vital statistics on mortality rates for males show that it is declining, but it is higher than that of females for each year. In 2000, male cerebrovascular diseases were 62.4 per 100,000 and female were 59.1 per 100,000. In 2010, the stroke rate for male was 39.3/100,000 and 39.3/100,000 for female. The data clearly show that female mortality rates are also declining. However, in the age-related cohorts, I can concur that this disease is associated with aging. It is practical nonexistent in ages 4 and under; however, it begins to appear at age five and moves up the rank with each advancing age cohort. In age 5-14, cerebrovascular diseases ranked ninth and eighth in 1980 and 2010 respectively. In ages 15-24, it ranked seventh in 1980 and 2010 respectively. In ages 25-44, it ranked seventh and eighth in 1980 and 2010 respectively. In ages 45-64, it ranked third and seventh in 1980 and 2010 respectively. Finally, in ages 65 and over it ranked third and forth in 1980 and 2010 respectively. These inferences were aided by the data from the vital statistics data.