Stroke

Stroke is a cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.

There are three different types of stroke: ischemic, hemorrhagic, and transient ischemic attacks. Ischemic stroke is the most common, accounting for 83% of all strokes.

Risk factors

The American Stroke Associate has identified several factors that increase your risk of having a stroke. The more risk factors you have, the greater the chance that you will have a stroke. Common risk factors are: increasing age, family history, race, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, and transient ischemic attacks ("mini strokes").

Prevention & Planning Ahead

Many strokes can be prevented by controlling risk factors and treating other medical conditions that can lead to stroke. You can reduce your risk by: having regular medical checkups, working with a doctor to control high blood pressure; this is especially true if you have diabetes, not smoking, and seeing your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Warning Signs & Symptoms

Learn to recognize a stroke and act quickly:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Diagnosis

To diagnose stroke your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and order some diagnostic tests.

Intervention/Treatment

It is important to seek treatment at the first sign of a stroke. Just as with a heart attack, permanent damage develops within the first few hours. Treatment depends on the type of stroke and may include medication, surgery, or rehabilitative therapy.

Read more about Stroke