Stroke

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Stroke

Also called: Brain attack

If you believe you are having a stroke - or someone you know is having a stroke - call 911 immediately.

A stroke is a medical emergency. Strokes happen when blood flow to your brain stops. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. There are two kinds of stroke. The more common kind, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other kind, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain. "Mini-strokes" or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted.

Symptoms of stroke are

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

What should you do?

Because stroke injures the brain, you may not realize that you are having a stroke. The people around you might not know it either. Your family, friends, or neighbors may think you are confused. You may not be able to call 911 on your own. That's why everyone should know the signs of stroke - and know how to act fast.

Don't wait for the symptoms to improve or worsen. If you believe you are having a stroke - or someone you know is having a stroke - call 911 immediately. Making the decision to call for medical help can make the difference in avoiding a lifelong disability.

Streetsign image with text: Trouble Walking

Streetsign image with text: Weakness on one side

Streetsign image with text: Trouble Seeing

Streetsign image with text: Trouble Speaking

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

More links from MedlinePlus

Overviews

Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time.(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Also available in Spanish
Stroke(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Stroke(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
Stroke: Hope through Research(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Also available in Spanish
Stroke: Warning Signs and Tips for Prevention(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish

Latest News

Many Miss Out on Stroke Treatment(08/07/2008, HealthDay)
Beauty Salons Teach Women about Stroke(08/07/2008, Reuters Health)
Vioxx, Bextra Linked to Increased Stroke Risk(08/07/2008, Reuters Health)
More News on Stroke

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Carotid Ultrasound(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Carotid Ultrasound Imaging(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
Also available in Spanish
Catheter Angiography(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
Also available in Spanish
Functional MR Imaging (fMRI): Brain(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
Also available in Spanish
Hypertensive Crisis: What Are the Symptoms?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Know Stroke: Know the Signs, Act in Time Video(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Stroke Diagnosis(Washington University, School of Medicine)
Stroke Risk Factors and Symptoms(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Also available in Spanish

Treatment

Brain Attack: A Look at Stroke Prevention and Treatment(Food and Drug Administration)
Hypothermia: Cooling the Brain and Acute Stroke(Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Also available in Spanish
Non-Surgical Procedures Open Blocked Arteries to Prevent and Treat Stroke(Society of Interventional Radiology)
Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA)(American Heart Association)
Also available in Spanish
What Are Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents?(American Heart Association) - Links to PDF

Prevention/Screening

ABCs of Preventing Heart Disease, Stroke and Heart Attack(American Heart Association)
Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Also available in Spanish
Carotid Endarterectomy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Also available in Spanish
Carotid Endarterectomy and Stenosis(American Association of Neurological Surgeons)
Carotid Stenting(Society for Vascular Surgery)
Daily Aspirin Therapy: Understand the Benefits and Risks(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Preventing Stroke(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Also available in Spanish
Questions and Answers about Carotid Endarterectomy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Reducing Your Risk of Stroke: Don't Wait for It to Happen to You(American Heart Association, American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF
Stroke(National Institute on Aging)
Also available in Spanish

Nutrition

Role of Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Stroke(Cleveland Clinic Foundation)

Rehabilitation/Recovery

Effects of Stroke(National Stroke Association)
Post-Stroke Rehabilitation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Also available in Spanish
Stroke Rehabilitation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Stroke Rehabilitation(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Also available in Spanish

Specific Conditions

CADASIL(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
Intracerebral Hemorrhage(Washington University, School of Medicine)
Ischemic Stroke(Washington University, School of Medicine)
JAMA Patient Page: Hemorrhagic Stroke(American Medical Association)
Lacunar Stroke(InteliHealth)
Spinal Cord Infarction(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage(Washington University, School of Medicine)
Wallenberg's Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary

Related Issues

Adapting the Home After a Stroke(Washington University, School of Medicine)
Avoiding Another Stroke(American Stroke Association)
Can I Drive After a Stroke?(American Stroke Association)
Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Life After Stroke: Survivor and Caregiver(National Stroke Association)
Pulse Check: The Importance of Self-Screening for Atrial Fibrillation Twice a Year(Women's Heart Foundation)
Sexual Activity and Heart Disease or Stroke(American Heart Association)
Spasticity and Paralysis(National Stroke Association)
Stroke Effects(American Stroke Association)
Updated Labeling for Coumadin (Warfarin)(Food and Drug Administration)
Vascular Dementia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Health Check Tools

Are You at Risk for Heart Disease or Stroke?(National Women's Health Information Center)
Stroke Risk Questionnaire(Siteman Cancer Center)
Also available in Spanish

MedlinePlus 08 / 10 / 2008