Causes

When the blood flow to a part of the brain stops, a stroke occurs. The conditions that contribute to a stroke can be caused by a variety of diseases, including diabetes and coronary artery disease.

There are two types of strokes. An ischemic stroke is caused when a blood clot blocks an artery or vessel in your brain. Eighty percent of strokes are ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain breaks and bleeds in the brain. During a stroke, cells in the brain do not get the oxygen and nutrients they need and start to die.

Symptoms

Symptoms of stroke can include:

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

If you have symptoms of a stroke, call 911.

Treatment

In recent years, treatments have been developed to help reduce the damage that strokes cause. You cannot treat a stroke at home. Emergency room care for a stroke is very important. Early care can reduce damage to your brain and lessen the effects of stroke. Medications that dissolve blood clots that are blocking the flow of blood in the brain can be used for ischemic strokes. Recognizing the warning signs of stroke and seeking treatment can greatly reduce the chances of permanent damage.

The damage that is caused may impair your ability to function normally. What kind of impairment and how severe it is depends on what part of the brain is damaged. Brain cells that are destroyed by a stroke do not grow back; however, the brain can adapt. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy can help people relearn some of skills that are lost. The aim of these therapies is to help you care for yourself.

Prevention

There are certain factors that can increase your risk for stroke. Some factors can be controlled and some cannot. Controlling these factors can help prevent stroke:

• High blood pressure. Have your blood pressure measured, and if it is high, take steps to control it.
• Diabetes. Keep your blood sugar under control.
• Smoking. If you use tobacco, stop.
• Coronary artery disease (CAD). If you have CAD, manage it. Modify your diet, be active, and take your medications exactly the way they are prescribed by your doctor.
• Transient ischemic attacks (TIA). A TIA is a mini-stroke. It has the same symptoms of a stroke but lasts only a few minutes. If you experience these, do not ignore them. They can be treated with medications or surgery.