This document discusses stroke prevalence in the United States. It reports that stroke is most common in the "Stroke Belt" region of the Southwest, despite its mysterious high rates. Mississippi has the highest stroke prevalence at 4.3%, followed by Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, and Nevada with rates from 3.2-3.4%. Over 100,000 Americans die from stroke each year, costing $34 billion annually in treatments. The document provides state-by-state data on stroke prevalence from 2002-2007.

1. Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon
The ‘Stroke Belt’: States with the highest prevalence
of stroke
Even amongst smokers (who are more typically associated with respiratory diseases), stroke is a massive
health threat. Smoking raises triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) levels and destroys cells that line
the blood vessels. In the U.S., this disease is most common in the Southwest, and the exact reason
remains obscure. This area is known as the “Stroke Belt,” the part of the country with the well-defined
but mysteriously high incidence of cardiovascular disorders.
More than a hundred thousand Americans die each year due to stroke and thousands more incur long-
term disability for the same disease. It is estimated that at least $34 billion is spent annually for
treatments related to this cardiovascular disorder. Below are the top states with the highest prevalence of
stroke according to a survey taken from 2002 to 2007:
(h ps://drlisamariecannon.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/stroke_death_rates.png)
Image source: cdc.gov (h p://www.cdc.gov/stroke/images/stroke_death_rates.png)
1.Mississippi (4.3 percent)
2.Oklahoma and Washington, D.C. (3.4 percent)
3.Louisiana (3.3 percent)
4.Alabama and Nevada (3.2 percent)
5.Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee (3.1 percent)
6.Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and West Virginia (3 percent)
7.Georgia and South Carolina (2.9 percent)
8.Florida, Hawaii, and North Carolina (2.8 percent)
9.Virginia (2.7 percent)

2. 10.California, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Utah (2.6 percent)
11.Alaska, Indiana, and Oregon (2.5 percent)
12.Idaho, Maine, New York, and Washington (2.4 percent)
(h ps://drlisamariecannon.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/74995563_c0119504-stroke_conceptual_artwork-
spl.jpg)
Image source: bbc.com (h p://ichef-
1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/media/images/74995000/jpg/_74995563_c0119504-stroke,_conceptual_artwork-spl.jpg)
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon (h p://www.columbiasurgery.net/2013/08/05/spotlight-on-graduating-chief-resident-dr-
lisa-cannon/) is a board-certified physician with more than 15 years of experience in critical care, internal medicine,
and pulmonary medicine. For more health-related discussions, click here (h ps://twi er.com/drlisamarie2).
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