Stroke

• Stroke is a medical emergency
• Early treatment greatly improves outcomes
• There are different types of stroke with different causes
• Stroke can affect movement, speech, vision, and thinking
• Recovery depends on severity and how quickly care is received

Stroke symptoms often appear suddenly and may include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Vision problems in one or both eyes
• Dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause

Stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted or a blood vessel ruptures.

Common causes include:

• Blood clots blocking arteries to the brain (ischemic stroke)
• Ruptured blood vessels causing bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke)
• Temporary blockages that resolve quickly (transient ischemic attack, or TIA)
• Underlying conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease

You may be at higher risk for stroke if you:

• Have high blood pressure
• Have diabetes or high cholesterol
• Smoke or use tobacco
• Have heart disease or irregular heart rhythm
• Are physically inactive
• Have a family history of stroke

Stroke treatment depends on the type and timing of the event and may include:

• Emergency medications to dissolve or prevent clots
• Procedures to restore blood flow
• Blood pressure management
• Surgery in certain cases
• Rehabilitation therapies such as physical, occupational, or speech therapy
• Long-term prevention strategies