What is Stroke?


Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and the #1 cause of adult disability.

Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. A stroke can also be called a "brain attack," because when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel (a tube through which the blood moves through the body) breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.

When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities  controlled by that area of the brain are lost.  These abilities include  speech, movement, memory and some vision.  How a stroke patient is  affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain  is damaged.

What Are the Effects of Stroke?

D33_1288.jpgThe brain is an extremely complex organ that controls various body functions. If a stroke occurs and blood flow can't reach the region that controls a particular body function, that part of the body won't work as it should.

If the stroke occurs toward the back of the brain, for instance, it's likely that some disability involving vision will result. The effects of a stroke depend primarily on the location of the obstruction and the extent of brain tissue affected.

Right Brain


The effects of a stroke depend on several factors including the location of the obstruction and how much brain tissue is affected. However, because one side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body, a stroke affecting one side will result in neurological complications on the side of the body if affects. For example, if the stroke occurs in the brain's right side, the left side of the body will be affected, which could produce any or all of the following:
  • Paralysis on the left side of the body
  • Vision problems 
  • Quick, inquisitive behavioral style 
  • Memory loss

Left Brain

If the stroke occurs in the left side of the brain, the right side of the body will be affected, producing some or all of the following:
  • Paralysis on the right side of the body
  • Speech/language problems 
  • Slow, cautious behavioral style 
  • Memory loss
To learn more about the types of different strokes click here

For more information on stroke click here

Sources National Stroke Association & American Heart Association