Stroke

Also called: Brain attack

A stroke is a medical emergency. Strokes happen when blood flow to your brain stops. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. There are two kinds of stroke. The more common kind, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other kind, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain. "Mini-strokes" or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted.

Symptoms of stroke are

• 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

If you have any of these symptoms, you must get to a hospital quickly to begin treatment. Acute stroke therapies try to stop a stroke while it is happening by quickly dissolving the blood clot or by stopping the bleeding. Post-stroke rehabilitation helps individuals overcome disabilities that result from stroke damage. Drug therapy with blood thinners is the most common treatment for stroke.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Start Here

• Know Stroke: Know the Signs, Act in Time(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
• Strokes(Patient Education Institute)

  Also available in Spanish

• What You Need to Know about Stroke(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews Latest News Diagnosis/Symptoms Treatment Prevention/Screening	Nutrition Rehabilitation/Recovery Specific Conditions Related Issues	Health Check Tools Tutorials Videos
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Anatomy/Physiology Clinical Trials Genetics Research Journal Articles	Medical Encyclopedia Dictionaries/Glossaries Directories Organizations Newsletters/Print Publications Statistics	MedlinePlus Magazine Children Women Seniors

• Overviews
  • Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time.(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Stroke(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Stroke(Food and Drug Administration)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Stroke(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Stroke(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
  • Stroke: Hope through Research(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

    Also available in Spanish

• Latest News
  • Fewer Deaths Occurring From Brain Bleeds(06/04/2009, HealthDay)
  • Mini-Stroke Can Mean Major One Within Hours(06/01/2009, HealthDay)
  • Time Window for Clot-Busting Drug May Be Expanded for Some Stroke Patients(05/28/2009, American Heart Association)
  • Window for Stroke Treatment Opens Wider(05/28/2009, HealthDay)
  • More Patients Needed in Clinical Trials to Find Treatment for Heart Condition Linked to Certain Strokes(05/11/2009, American Heart Association)
  • May Is National Stroke Awareness Month(05/04/2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • More News on Stroke
• Diagnosis/Symptoms
  • Carotid Ultrasound(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Carotid Ultrasound Imaging(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Catheter Angiography(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Functional MR Imaging (fMRI) -- Brain(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Hypertensive Crisis: What Are the Symptoms?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Know Stroke: Know the Signs, Act in Time Video(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
  • Stroke Diagnosis(Washington University, School of Medicine)
  • Stroke Risk Factors and Symptoms(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

    Also available in Spanish

• Treatment
  • Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Non-Surgical Procedures Open Blocked Arteries to Prevent and Treat Stroke(Society of Interventional Radiology)
  • Stroke: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA)(American Heart Association)

    Also available in Spanish

  • What Are Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents?(American Heart Association) - Links to PDF
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• Prevention/Screening
  • ABCs of Preventing Heart Disease, Stroke and Heart Attack(American Heart Association)
  • Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Carotid Endarterectomy(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Carotid Endarterectomy and Stenosis(American Association of Neurological Surgeons)
  • Carotid Stenting(Society for Vascular Surgery)
  • Daily Aspirin Therapy: Understand the Benefits and Risks(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
  • Questions and Answers about Carotid Endarterectomy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
  • Reducing Your Risk of Stroke: Don't Wait for It to Happen to You(American Heart Association, American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF
  • Stroke(National Institute on Aging)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Talk with Your Doctor about Taking Aspirin Every Day(Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
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• Nutrition
  • Recovery After Stroke: Healthy Eating(National Stroke Association) - Links to PDF
  • Role of Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Stroke(Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
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• Rehabilitation/Recovery
  • Effects of Stroke(National Stroke Association)
  • Post-Stroke Rehabilitation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Stroke Rehabilitation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
  • Stroke Rehabilitation(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

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• Specific Conditions
  • CADASIL(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
  • Intracerebral Hemorrhage(Washington University, School of Medicine)
  • Ischemic Stroke(Washington University, School of Medicine)
  • JAMA Patient Page: Hemorrhagic Stroke(American Medical Association)
  • Lacunar Stroke(InteliHealth)
  • Spinal Cord Infarction(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage(Washington University, School of Medicine)
  • Wallenberg's Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
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• Related Issues
  • Adapting the Home After a Stroke(Washington University, School of Medicine)
  • Agnosia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
  • Avoiding Another Stroke(American Stroke Association)
  • Can I Drive After a Stroke?(American Stroke Association)
  • Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Life After Stroke: Survivor and Caregiver(National Stroke Association)
  • Pulse Check: The Importance of Self-Screening for Atrial Fibrillation Twice a Year(Women's Heart Foundation)
  • Sexual Activity and Heart Disease or Stroke(American Heart Association)
  • Spasticity and Paralysis(National Stroke Association)
  • Stroke Effects(American Stroke Association)
  • Vascular Dementia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Vulnerable Plaque(Texas Heart Institute)
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• Health Check Tools
  • Stroke Risk Questionnaire(Siteman Cancer Center)

    Also available in Spanish

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• Tutorials
  • Carotid Endarterectomy(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Stroke(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
  • Stroke Rehabilitation(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Strokes(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

  Return to top
• Videos
  • If I Had - Slurred Speech(Insidermedicine)
  • Innovations in Stroke Prevention: An Update on Carotid Stenting(OR-Live) - One hour program - 7/15/2008
  • Know Stroke: Know the Signs, Act in Time Video(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
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• Anatomy/Physiology
  • Atlas of the Body: The Brain--Effects of Stroke(American Medical Association)
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• Clinical Trials
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Carotid Stenosis(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Cerebrovascular Disorders(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Endarterectomy, Carotid(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Stroke(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Endarterectomy, Carotid(National Institutes of Health)
  • Stroke Trials Directory(Washington University, School of Medicine)
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• Genetics
  • Genetics Home Reference: Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy(National Library of Medicine)
  • Genetics Home Reference: Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes(National Library of Medicine)
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• Research
  • Adult Stroke Patients Report Low Use of Healthcare Services to Prevent a Second Stroke(American Heart Association)
  • Alcohol's Impact on Heart and Stroke Risk May Differ for Men, Women(American Heart Association)
  • Arrival Method, Slow Response Often Delay Stroke Care(American Heart Association)
  • Caring for Stroke Survivors Sometimes Stressful, but Also Rewarding(American Heart Association)
  • Children with Sickle Cell Disease 221 More Likely to Suffer Stroke(American Heart Association)
  • Frequent Coffee Drinking Associated with Lower Stroke Risk in Nonsmoking Women(American Heart Association)
  • Guidelines Highlight Key Differences Between Child and Adult Stroke(American Heart Association)
  • Healthy Lifestyle Dramatically Cuts Stroke Risk(American Heart Association)
  • Heart and Stroke Death Rates Down, Some Risk Factors Still Too High(American Heart Association)
  • Hospitals Using Quality Improvement Program Increase Compliance to Stroke Treatment Guidelines(American Heart Association)
  • Ischemic Stroke Rate Increases Dramatically in Mid-40s(American Heart Association)
  • Laser Treatment Clinical Trial Misses Primary Endpoint(American Heart Association)
  • Most High-Risk Patients in Study Not Taking Blood Thinner Before Stroke(American Heart Association)
  • Most U.S. Hospitals Don't Provide Powerful Acute Stroke Drug to Medicare Patients(American Heart Association)
  • Number of Fast-Food Restaurants in Neighborhood Associated with Stroke Risk(American Heart Association)
  • People at High Risk of Stroke Less Aware of Stroke Warning Signs(American Heart Association)
  • Psychological Symptoms and Personality Characteristics Affect Quality of Life after Stroke(American Heart Association)
  • Robotic Therapy May Reduce Stroke Physical Disability Years Later(American Heart Association)
  • Specialized Care, Telemedicine May Improve Stroke Outcomes(American Heart Association)
  • Statin Reduces Heart Attack, Stroke Rates in Patients with Normal Cholesterol but Elevated C-Reactive Protein(American Heart Association)
  • Statins and Stroke(American Academy of Neurology)
  • Stroke(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF
  • Stroke Incidence Declines among Swedish Diabetics(American Heart Association)
  • Stroke Incidence May Be Higher and Deadlier in American Indians(American Heart Association)
  • Stroke Patients Who Reach Hospitals within "Golden Hour" Twice As Likely to Get Clot-Busting Drug(American Heart Association)
  • Sudden Hearing Loss Could Indicate Future Stroke(American Heart Association)
  • Ten Percent of Healthy People in Study Had Injury from "Silent Strokes"(American Heart Association)
  • Too Much, Too Little Sleep Increases Ischemic Risk in Postmenopausal Women(American Heart Association)
  • Treadmill Therapy Rewires Brain, Helps Stroke Survivors Walk Better(American Heart Association)
  • Treating Brain Hemorrhage Early at High-Volume Centers Improves Outcomes(American Heart Association)
  • Women on Mediterranean-Type Diets May Lower Heart, Stroke Risk(American Heart Association)
  • Young Adult Stroke Patients May Be Misdiagnosed in Emergency Rooms(American Heart Association)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Differences in retinal vessels support a distinct vasculopathy causing lacunar...
  • Article: Stroke and age-brain barrier: how many bricks in the wall?
  • Article: Advances in interventional neuroradiology.
  • Stroke -- see more articles
  • Stroke prevention -- see more articles
  • Therapy & rehabilitation after stroke -- see more articles
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• Medical Encyclopedia
  • Stroke
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• Dictionaries/Glossaries
  • Glossary of Neurosurgical Terms(American Association of Neurological Surgeons)
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• Directories
  • Certified Primary Stroke Centers(American Stroke Association)
  • Find a Board-Certified Neurosurgeon(American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons)
  • Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
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• Organizations
  • American Heart Association
  • American Stroke Association
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

    Also available in Spanish

  • National Stroke Association
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• Newsletters/Print Publications
  • Stroke Connection Magazine(American Stroke Association)
  • Stroke Smart(National Stroke Association)
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• Statistics
  • FastStats: Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease(National Center for Health Statistics)
  • Heart Disease and Stroke Maps(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics -- 2008 Update(American Heart Association) - Large PDF file
  • Stroke(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Stroke Facts 2007: All Americans(American Heart Association) - Links to PDF
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• MedlinePlus Magazine
  • Kirk Douglas: "My Stroke of Luck"
  • The "Know Stroke" Campaign
  • Two Kinds of Stroke
  • Understanding Stroke
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• Children
  • Pediatric Stroke Center(Washington University, School of Medicine)
  • Stroke(Nemours Foundation)
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• Women
  • Stroke is a Woman's Problem Too(American Stroke Association)
  • Women and Stroke: Unique Symptoms in Women(National Stroke Association)
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• Seniors
  • Stroke(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
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• Related Topics

  • Aphasia
  • Transient Ischemic Attack
  • Blood, Heart and Circulation
  • Brain and Nerves
  • Seniors
  
  

• National Institutes of Health

  • The primary NIH organization for research on Stroke is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

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