http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2005/205_stroke.html
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, which is why it's sometimes called a "brain attack." About 700,000 people have a stroke each year--500,000 first strokes and 200,000 recurrent strokes. Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability and the third-leading cause of death for Americans after heart disease and cancer.