What is a Stroke?

There are two kinds of stroke:

Ischemic - a clot blocks the flow of blood through one of the arteries feeding the brain.

Hemorrhagic - bleeding into or around the brain and causing damage to nearby brain tissue.

When a stroke occurs, it kills brain cells rapidly that control different functions such as moving an arm, leg or speaking. When those cells are lost (die) so is the function. In essence, a person is left with brain damage that can result in paralysis, inability to speak, visual field deficits, emotional problems and other disabilities. Stroke is the number one cause of disability in the United States.

Stroke is a highly treatable disease if treated early. You must act really fast! Call 911 immediately and get treatment within 3 hours of the onset of symptoms to have the best chance of surviving a strike without sever disability.

Stroke symptoms (warning signs) may make it impossible or a person to call 911 and talk coherently to an operator, or even realize that anything is happening to them. It is often up to a family member or friend to recognize the warning signs of stroke and then call 911 for them.

When you recognize stroke symptoms:

• Do not hesitate!
• Do not wait for it to pass or to just go away.
• Call 911 immediately. Every second that a stroke goes untreated, brain cells are dying.