What Is a Stroke/Brain Attack?
A stroke (brain attack) happens when a blood vessel (artery) that brings blood to the brain is blocked or has burst. The lack of blood flow causes the brain cells to die. After a stroke, some body functions may be lost, like speech or movement in parts of the body. This depends on two things: • which part of the brain was damaged • how severe the attack wasStroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease and cancer, and is the leading cause of serious and long-term disability. There are two types of strokes, ischemic and hemorrhagic. • Ischemic strokes: make up about 80% of all strokes. Ischemic strokes happen when the blood supply to the brain is blocked. There are two main types of ischemic strokes: • Thrombotic strokes: are the most common type of strokes. These strokes are caused by a blood clot (thrombus) in an artery that blocks blood flow to a part of the brain. These blood clots usually form in arteries damaged by atherosclerosis, or plaque. •
