ABSTRACT
Much of our understanding of stroke incidence comes from the Heart and Stroke Statistical Update for 2002 and 2006 by the American Heart Association, which included a 44-year follow-up study of participants and a 20-year follow-up of their offspring by the Framingham Heart Study. The most common type of stroke is atherothrombotic brain infarction, which accounts for 61% of all strokes. In a 2002 study, the majority of strokes were ischemic in nature; 10% were due to intracerebral hemorrhage, and 7% were due to subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke can happen at any age, from newborn to seniors. Stroke is more common in men than in women. In most age groups, men have a higher incidence of stroke than women. Fibrinolysis is the only approved and accepted therapy against stroke. Scientists have not given up the search for new approaches to the detrimental consequences of stroke.
