What is a stroke?
Stroke is the term doctors use when a part of the brain dies because it goes without blood for too long. Strokes can happen when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off, because:
- An artery in the brain gets clogged or closes off, or
- An artery in the brain starts bleeding.
How do strokes affect people?
The effects of a stroke depend on a lot of things, including:
- Which part and how much of the brain is affected
- How quickly the stroke is treated
Some people who have a stroke have no lasting effects. Others lose important brain functions. For example, some people become partly paralyzed or unable to speak. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.
How can you tell if someone is having a stroke?
There is an easy way to remember the signs of a stroke. Just think of the word “FAST” . Each letter in the word stands for one of the things you should watch for:
- F ace — Does the person’s face look uneven or droop on one side?
- A rm — Does the person have weakness or numbness in one or both arms? Does one arm drift down if the person tries to hold both arms out?
- S peech — Is the person having trouble speaking? Does his or her speech sound strange?
- T ime — If you notice any of these stroke signs, call 9-1-1. You need to act FAST. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chances of recovery.
How are strokes treated?
The right treatment depends on what kind of stroke you are having. To figure this out, you need to get to the hospital quickly.
People whose strokes are caused by clogged arteries can:
- Get medicines that break up blood clots. These medicines can help reopen clogged arteries.
- Get medicines that prevent new blood clots. These medicines also help prevent future strokes.
People whose strokes are caused by bleeding can:
- Have treatments that reduce the damage caused by bleeding in or around the brain
- Stop taking medicines that increase bleeding, or take a lower dose
- Have surgery to repair the artery or stop the bleeding (this is not always possible to do)