Many Causes for Drop in Stroke Deaths

The U.S. stroke death rate has dropped 30% in the last 11 years, and a new report takes a look at the reasons. Because of the decline in deaths, stroke has slipped from third to fourth place among U.S. causes of death. Several causes appear to have had a role in this decline, a co-author of the report said. George Howard, Dr.P.H., is quoted in a December 3 article from HealthDay News. He said the most important reason may be improvements in control of high blood pressure. Another reason may be the reduction in smoking rates, he said. Cholesterol levels have declined as a result of better medicines. Treatments for stroke patients also have improved, Howard said. Howard teaches in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a professor of biostatistics.