8,914 Connecticut cases recorded in 2025 as Sen. Murphy leaves hospital
The 53-year-old Democrat was treated for a small brain bleed and will enter a rehab center.
By Dominic Foster ·
Connecticut recorded 8,914 stroke and transient ischemic attack cases in 2025, according to state health data. This figure serves as a backdrop to the medical recovery of U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, who was discharged from Johns Hopkins Hospital on Thursday after being treated for a stroke.
Murphy, 53, described the onset of symptoms in a statement issued by his office. He reported feeling unwell on Saturday afternoon while attending his son's hockey game. His chief of staff, Allison Herwitt, confirmed that the senator experienced numbness in his arm at that time. Murphy called 911 out of caution and was subsequently diagnosed with a small bleed in the thalamus region of the brain.
Dr. Jose Suarez, chief of neurosciences critical care at Johns Hopkins, characterized the event as a small hemorrhagic stroke. He stated that the senator has shown tremendous progress. Suarez said the medical team expects a full recovery following a period of rehabilitation. Murphy will spend several weeks at a rehabilitation center to continue his treatment.
The senator said he remains engaged with his team and colleagues remotely. His staff continues to handle legislative priorities and constituent services. Murphy asked for continued respect for his family's privacy during the recovery process. He thanked the hospital staff for their care.
Murphy is the fourth senator to suffer a stroke in recent years. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico and Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania both experienced strokes in 2022. Fetterman attributed his condition to a blood clot triggered by atrial fibrillation. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland also suffered a minor stroke in 2022.
A large U.S. population study released last month in the American Academy of Neurology found that strokes among adults ages 20 to 54 nearly doubled over three decades. The study noted that short-term survival after stroke improved during that same period. Neurologists in the Hartford region noted that rising rates of risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and obesity are contributing to the increase in cases among younger people.
The American Medical Association identifies stroke as the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. The condition accounts for approximately 795,000 cases annually and is a major cause of long-term disability for adults. Murphy recently returned from an overseas trip where he visited sites affected by the Iran War. He has criticized the administration's handling of the conflict and expressed concern about potential military escalation.
