Description: Stroke, the third leading cause of death in the United States, is a leading cause of adult neurological disability and accounts for the greatest number of hospitalizations for neurological disease. Although treatment of acute stroke has the potential of reducing death and disability, it is likely that prevention will more effectively reduce the ravages of stroke. The patient who is recovering from a mild stroke or who has had a recent transient ischemic attack (TIA) is at high risk of stroke recurrence, physical and intellectual disability, long-term institutionalization, and death.