A stroke is sometimes called an apoplexy, brain attack, cerebral accident or cerebrovascular accident. A stroke can injure the brain like a heart attack can injure the heart. Stroke is the result of cerebrovascular disease - disease of the blood vessels in the brain.
There are two types of stroke:
Ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke. This type of stroke happens when there is a sudden lack of blood flow to some part of the brain, usually due to a blood clot blocking an artery or blood vessel. Often the artery is already clogged with fatty deposits (atherosclerosis).
Hemorrhagic stroke. Bleeding in the brain from a broken or leaking blood vessel causes this type of stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke may be due to an aneurysma thin or weak spot in an artery that balloons out and can burst.
Either type of stroke can cause brain cells to die. This brain damage may cause a person to lose control of certain functions, such as speech, movement, and memory. Like a heart attack, a stroke is an emergency and should be treated as quickly as possible.
of a Stroke
Know the symptoms of a stroke so that you or someone you know can get prompt treatment. The most common symptoms include:
- Dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination
- A sudden, severe "bolt out of the blue" headache or an unusual headache, which may be accompanied by a stiff neck, facial pain, pain between the eyes, vomiting or altered consciousness
- Confusion, or problems with memory, spatial orientation or perception
- Sudden numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm or leg usually on one side of the body
- Loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech (aphasia)
- Sudden blurred, double or decreased vision
For most people, a stroke gives no warning. But one possible sign of an impending stroke is a
"mini-stroke" which refers to a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
In a TIA, there is a short-term reduction in blood flow to the brain. This
causes temporary stroke symptoms (often just for a few minutes) such as weakness
or tingling in an arm or leg. TIAs don't cause brain damage, but they are
important warning signs that a person is at risk of having a stroke. If you have
a TIA, you should seek medical care right away to prevent a full stroke.
Stroke Symptoms to S