Key Takeaways:
- Stroke is common and urgent: every year, nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. experience a stroke
- Stroke risk goes up after age 50, but it can happen at any age
- Heart disease, obesity, and diabetes are some likely contributors to stroke at any age
- Some strokes don’t come with telltale signs or symptoms
- Myths about stroke contribute to danger delays in getting proper and timely care
- Engaging in a healthy lifestyle is a place to start in lowering stroke risk
- This Stroke Awareness Month, knowing the warning signs of stroke could save a life
Someone in the U.S. experiences stroke about every 40 seconds. That’s nearly 800,000 people every year. A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked by a clot or when a blood vessel bursts. Because blood vessels deliver oxygen and nutrients to the brain, any interruption can cause brain cells to begin dying within minutes.
Despite how common stroke is and how serious the consequences can be, many people still don’t get care quickly enough. Sometimes the warning signs of stroke are missed. Sometimes symptoms are brushed off or ignored. And in some cases, there are no noticeable symptoms at all.
“Early recognition of any symptoms and quick action are critical to receiving the time‑sensitive treatment for stroke that can directly relate to a better outcome,” says Ryan Cheung, D.O., a neurologist on the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano.
So why do people wait? Myths and misunderstandings about stroke play a big role. Below are a handful of common stroke misconceptions — and the facts that can help save lives.
Myth #1: Strokes Only Happen to Older People
While relatively rare in young people, a stroke can happen to anyone at any age. “Stroke risk goes up rather dramatically after 50, however, we’re seeing it become more common among adults in the prime of their life,” Cheung says. “In fact, the latest 2026 early ischemic stroke management guidelines updated just recently by the American Stroke Association have the first mention of pediatric stroke and treatments for babies down to 28 days old.”
About 10 percent of stroke patients are under the age of 50. Cheung suggests that conditions like heart and other cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are some likely contributors.
Myth #2: Strokes Are Always Painful
Most strokes are not painful and do not come with any telltale sensations, according to Cheung. “This is one thing that can differentiate a stroke from a heart attack,” he says. “Most patients who have stroke in the middle of the night, for example, do not know about it until they wake up in the morning because of the lack of pain.”
The exception to this is hemorrhagic stroke, which happens in about 13 percent of the American population. Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding area. These strokes can be accompanied by a sudden, extremely severe headache. “Patients often describe them as the worst headache of their life,” Cheung notes.
“The symptoms to look out for are sudden changes in balance, vision, the face (drooping), an arm or leg (weakness), speech, or that terrible headache,” Cheung adds. “BE FAST is the pneumonic to remember.”
Myth #3: You Should Give Someone Aspirin if You Suspect a Stroke
Aspirin is one medication used to prevent a stroke, but Cheung cautions that in the case of hemorrhagic bleeding in the brain it can actually make things worse. Aspirin is a blood thinner that helps prevent clotting, which can be beneficial if you’re experiencing an ischemic stroke. But that’s not the case with hemorrhagic strokes.
If you or someone you love is suspected of experiencing a stroke, it’s important to reach for the phone to call 911 immediately, get to a hospital, and obtain a CT scan of the head that can rule out a hemorrhage first before receiving further care.
Myth #4: Only People with a Family History of Stroke Are at Risk
It’s true that you were born with some risk factors. Genetic factors such as the presence of sickle cell disease, atrial fibrillation, or elevated cholesterol and blood sugar levels in other family members, may increase your risk for stroke. But they don’t determine it.
“Even people without a family history of stroke are still at risk,” Cheung says. “Stroke often occur without warning, so identifying risk factors early on doesn’t always happen. It may be something a physician will have to assess after the fact.”
Myth #5: You Can’t Prevent a Stroke
Stroke is not entirely preventable, however, there are things that can be done to reduce and minimize your risk for stroke.
Engaging in a healthy lifestyle is a great place to start, suggests Cheung. “This means avoiding tobacco; eating healthy, nutritious foods; getting at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly; and managing high blood pressure.”
The American Heart Association offers Life’s Essential 8 in an effort to curb stroke statistics. Life’s Essential 8 are key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health. Better cardiovascular health helps lower the risk for stroke and other major health problems.
The Bottom Line
Stroke affects nearly 800,000 Americans each year, and because brain cells begin dying within minutes, recognizing symptoms quickly is essential. Many people delay care due to missed signs or common myths. Knowing the symptoms of stroke could save a life.
Learn how to be stroke aware during Stroke Awareness Month in May — and always. You can also check your own stroke risk in just a few minutes with our free stroke risk assessment.