What is a stroke?

The brain relies on a system of arteries to keep it constantly supplied with oxygen‐rich blood. If one of these arteries is damaged or blocked, the result is a stroke. When a part of the brain is deprived of its oxygen supply for more than three or four minutes, that portion of the brain begins to die.

A stroke can happen in one of two ways: An artery may rupture and bleed into the brain tissue; or an artery may become blocked by an embolus?that is, a blood clot that travels up to the brain through the artery. The risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, and high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

Individuals with diabetes who have a stroke are in a unique?and dangerous?position. In a person without diabetes, when oxygen supply to the brain is blocked, other arteries often bypass the blockage and manage to make up for the reduction in blood flow. But in diabetics, those bypass arteries are often affected by atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), impairing blood flow to the brain.

Damage to the brain during stroke can result in loss of the ability to move parts of the body, such as an arm or leg, as well as impairment in speech and the ability to understand. By having your cholesterol checked regularly, working to control your bad cholesterol, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and getting your blood pressure under control, you can reduce your risk of stroke.

A stroke is caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain. A stroke can be caused by a blood clot or some other particle like a piece of fatty plaque, that blocks the blood flow to a part of the brain.  This type of stroke is called an ischemic stroke.  A stroke can also be caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain causing bleeding into brain tissue. This type of stroke is called an intracerebral hemorrhage, which also causes brain tissue damage. Among the effects of a stroke are paralysis, usually on one side of the body, slurred speech, loss of sensation or numbness, or problems with vision.

 

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel to the brain or within the brain bursts or becomes blocked and no blood can flow to brain tissue. When blood flow stops, brain tissue begins to die. Time lost is brain lost! Clot-busting drugs, if given within 3 hours can open some blocked arteries. Remember 3 hours includes the time for medical evaluation. Every minute counts so immediate medical attention is important.

A stroke is a sudden disruption in blood flow to the brain caused by a blockage or bleeding of a blood vessel. Areas of the brain that are affected by the blockage or bleeding can become damaged within minutes.

The effects of a stroke may be mild or severe and temporary or permanent, depending on which brain cells are damaged, how much of the brain is involved, and how quickly the blood supply is restored to the area.

Symptoms of a stroke happen quickly. A stroke may cause:

• Sudden numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of movement in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body.
• Sudden vision changes.
• Sudden trouble speaking.
• Sudden confusion or trouble understanding simple statements.
• Sudden problems with walking or balance.
• A sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches.

A person with stroke symptoms needs immediate medical attention to help limit potential damage.

A stroke is when there has been damage to the brain by either a bleed (hemorrhage) or a lack of blood supply or a clot (ischemia). Some of the symptoms of a stroke include numbness or weakness on one side of the face, arms or legs. Other symptoms include dizziness, headache, visual change and slurred speech. This is an emergency and can be treated if seen within a few hours of symptoms starting. If you suspect a stroke, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.

Stroke is often called a "brain attack." Just as a disrupted blood flow may damage or kills heart cells, so does it damage or kill brain cells. The severity of the damage depends on factors such as the location of the stroke, the extent of tissue injury, and how quickly symptoms are treated.

In ischemic strokes, which make up more than 80% of all cases, the cause is a blood clot blocking an artery supplying the brain. The clot may form in a blood vessel within the brain (thrombotic stroke), or it may form elsewhere and travel to the brain, where it lodges in a narrow vessel (embolic stroke). If the blood supply is interrupted only temporarily, so that symptoms go away in less than a day, it's called a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or a warning stroke. A TIA must be taken seriously and treated as an emergency, because at the start, there's no way to distinguish it from a full-blown stroke. In addition, about one-third of those who experience a TIA will go on to have a full stroke, often within a year.

Slightly less than 20% of strokes are hemorrhagic strokes, in which a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Not only are brain cells deprived of the blood supplied by the vessel, but surrounding tissue is also damaged, as leaking blood irritates neurons and creates pressure on the brain.

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when a blockage stops the flow of blood to the brain or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. Although many people think of stroke as a condition that affects only older adults, strokes can and do occur in people of all ages. In fact, nearly a quarter of all strokes occur in people younger than age 65.

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A stroke (or cerebrovascular accident, CVA) is much like what a heart attack is to the heart, but to the brain. A stroke involves the sudden interruption of blood flow and oxygen to areas in the brain and can cause brain damage and loss of function. Stroke develops suddenly, usually in a matter of minutes, and causes symptoms such as paralysis, numbness or weakness often affecting one side of the body, confusion, dizziness, speech problems, and loss of vision. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.

There are two main types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are by far the more common type, and occur when a blood clot or plaque (protein, cholesterol, and material) deposit blocks an artery supplying blood to the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain bursts, causing blood to flow into the surrounding tissue. The mortality rate is higher for hemorrhagic stroke than for ischemic stroke, with most deaths occurring within the first 48 hours of the event.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a type of stroke that usually lasts only 10 - 20 minutes. TIAs are sometimes considered to be "mini-strokes." While TIAs cause no long-term damage, having a TIA puts an individual at increased risk of acute stroke. Symptoms of TIAs may go unnoticed, and may be confused with other conditions such as epilepsy, migraines, or diabetes.

Stroke is a medical emergency. Prompt treatment of a stroke could be the difference between life and death. Early treatment can also minimize damage to the brain and potential disability.

The National Stroke Association reports that in the United States, stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and the third-leading cause of death. Only heart disease and cancer cause more deaths annually.

Men are 1.25 times more likely to suffer from strokes than women, yet 60% of deaths from stroke occur in women.

Eighty percent of strokes are preventable, which would save approximately 600,000 Americans annually.

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Stroke is the sudden or gradual loss of blood flow to an area of the brain, causing damage to the brain that can almost always be seen on brain imaging such as a CAT scan or MRI. Stroke is caused by a blockage of blood flow into or out of the brain. It can also be due to a sudden rupture (breakage) of a blood vessel in the brain.

Prevention of stroke is possible by controlling high blood pressure, carefully managing diabetes, avoidance of smoking, lowering of cholesterol, being aware of any family history of stroke, and avoiding any activities that might put one at risk for stroke, e.g. drugs.