What is a stroke?

A stroke occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is suddenly interrupted. There are two types of stroke:

• Ischemic stroke - caused by the buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in a brain artery, or by a blood clot which blocks blood flow in a brain artery
  
• Hemorrhagic stroke - caused by a sudden rupture (break) of an artery leading to the brain. When blood flow to the brain stops, the brain gets no oxygen. This can cause temporary or permanent brain damage, and with time, can result in death.
   
   

What are the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke?

A stroke can cause several different symptoms. Do not ignore them. Every second counts. Early treatment can increase your chance of survival and lessen the likelihood of permanent brain damage.

Know the warning signs of stroke:

• Difficulty feeling or moving on one side of the body
• Slurring or trouble speaking
• Brief episode of a weakness of an arm or leg
• Brief loss of vision
• Darkening of the vision in one eye
• A shade or curtain coming down over one eye
• Dizziness or confusion
• Faint (syncope) or feeling faint

How is a stroke detected?

Stroke is a progressive disease caused by several cardiovascular risk factors. These include:

• Family history of stroke
• Old age
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Overweight
• Lack of exercise
• Stress

We invite you to take a simple, free risk assessment to evaluate your own risk factors. Simply click the Heart Risk Assessment icon in the upper left of this page to begin.

If you are at risk for stroke (e.g. have multiple risk factors) or you experience early symptoms, talk to your physician. He or she can perform imaging tests to detect cardiovascular disease early and prevent a stroke. These imaging studies include:

• Carotid duplex scan (ultrasound)
• Computed topography (CT) scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

What are the treatment options for a stroke?

The best medicine for treatment of stroke is prevention. This means making lifestyle changes to reduce your cardiovascular risk factors. A stroke occurs when fatty deposits (plaque) build up inside the arteries leading to your brain. This is called peripheral vascular disease. It is progressive, meaning the plaque builds up over time. But if you modify your risk factors that contribute to peripheral vascular disease (and coronary artery disease as well), you can maintain, and in some cases, reverse the effects of the disease.

Should you or someone you know have a stroke, a treatment plan will be developed specific to your condition. Your doctor will monitor your health carefully to prevent further brain damage. Then your doctor may recommend therapy to deal with consequences of stroke. This may include physical, speech and occupational therapy.

6/16/2008