Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States, behind diseases of the heart and cancer. 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.
What Are the Types of Stroke?
Stroke can be caused either by a clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain (called an ischemic stroke) or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain (called a hemorrhagic stroke).
Diagnosis of Stroke
When someone has shown symptoms of a stroke or a TIA (transient ischemic attack or mini stroke), a doctor will gather information and make a diagnosis. A doctor may use many different tests. The ones listed here are just some of the more common options.
Acute and Preventative Treatments of Stroke
Because the types of stroke are different, the treatments for acute management and prevention are different.
What Are the Effects of Stroke?
The brain is an extremely complex organ that controls various body functions. If a stroke occurs and blood flow can't reach the region that controls a particular body function, that part of the body won't work as it should.
This content is reviewed regularly. Last updated 06/10/09.
