MAIN Health Diseases & Conditions Stroke

The brain is the executive in charge of your body and your world. Language, emotions, walking and even breathing depend on a brain that is healthy. A stroke, even a mild one, causes damage in your brain — and in your life.

Stroke, sometimes clinically known as a cerebrovascular accident — or a "brain attack" — is caused by interruption of blood flow to the neurons, the cells in the brain that transmit information and allow you to function.

When this happens, the brain cells begin to die almost immediately from a lack of oxygen and nutrients. This often results in related physical and/or emotional symptoms. The effects vary in severity depending upon how quickly the stroke is diagnosed and treated and how much of the brain was damaged.

Most people experience what are known as ischemic ("is-keem-ic") strokes. These are caused by clots that block the flow of blood to vessels or arteries in the brain. Many people have little "mini-strokes" without even knowing that there was a problem.

More rarely, hemorrhagic ("hem-o-RAJ-ik") stroke is caused by a broken blood vessel that bleeds into the brain.

Early signs and symptoms of a stroke

A stroke may be hard to diagnose. You may experience only headache, dizziness and confusion. Then the blot clot causing the problem moves on or dissolves and everything seems normal again. Some strokes are only diagnosed because they begin to notice problems caused by the cumulative effects of multiple mini-strokes.

However, more severe signs typically manifest in difficulties with speaking, problems with vision, or sudden numbness or paralysis in the face, arm or leg on one side of the body.

Since more injury is done to the brain as more time elapses, immediate action is vitally important in treating stroke. A standard treatment for ischemic stroke is t-PA, which helps dissolve the blood clot that is obstructing blood flow to the brain.

Treated quickly with t-PA, a stroke's debilitating physical effects have been shown to be greatly lessened, and recovery time is usually much more rapid.

Risk factors

Risk factors most closely associated with stroke are the same as for heart disease, and include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking.

A low fat diet rich in fruits & vegetables, and plenty of exercise, can also reduce risk of stroke and a number of other diseases.

Around the Web, find out more about causes, signs & symptoms, new treatments now under investigation, common medications, where to find accredited rehabilitation centers, and other tips & advice on decreasing your risk of stroke and heart disease ...

Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time. - Complete fact sheet detailing causes, signs & symptoms, what to watch for, resulting disabilities that may follow a stroke, prevention tips, plus a link to an educational video presentation.

MedlinePlus - Stroke - Complete Web guide to the topic including the latest news headlines, with links to top sites explaining more on causes, symptoms & treatment, risk prevention, rehabilitation and recovery, research and clinical trials.

Learn About Stroke - Helpful information from the American Stroke Association on warning signs, what happens during a stroke, reducing risks, plus a searchable database of accredited rehab facilities and certified primary stroke centers in the U.S.

Stroke - Comprehensive overview from the American Heart Association with causes & symptoms and links to more on warning signs, high blood pressure & smoking dangers, related risk factors, facts & statistics.

Stroke - Wikipedia entry with extensive information on causes, risk factors, symptoms & treatment options for ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke, care & rehabilitation, related links & worldwide resources.

Types of Stroke - Illustrated guide with facts on causes, symptoms and risk factors associated with ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Also see -> Smoking | Heart Disease | Obesity

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This information is intended as reference and not as medical advice.
All treatment decisions should be made by medical professionals.