What is a stroke?

A stroke is a serious medical condition that happens when blood flow to the brain is stopped. It is sometimes called a “brain attack”. A stroke can cause paralysis and problems with thinking, speaking, even your emotions. There are two kinds of strokes; the most common is called an ischemic stroke. During this type of stroke a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain. Some people may experience transient ischemic attacks or TIA’s. These are small strokes that last for only a few minutes or hours. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke say TIA’s should never be ignored. The other type of stroke is known as a hemorrhagic stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain. Symptoms of a stroke include: 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. You’re at risk for a stroke if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or you smoke. If you believe you or someone you know is having a stroke, call 911 immediately. Watch more video about strokes or share your story on video with icyou.