Stroke
Also called: CVA and cerebrovascular accident
Damage to the brain from interruption of its blood supply.
- Requires a medical diagnosis
- Lab tests or imaging always required
- Treatment can help, but this condition can't be cured
- Critical: needs emergency care
A stroke is a medical emergency.
Symptoms of stroke include trouble walking, speaking, and understanding, as well as paralysis or numbness of the face, arm, or leg.
Early treatment with medications like tPA (clot buster) can minimize brain damage. Other treatments focus on limiting complications and preventing additional strokes.
Common: More than 200,000 US cases per year
Consult a doctor for medical advice
Sources: Mayo Clinic and others. Learn more
stroke
stroke/strōk/
noun
- an act of hitting or striking someone or something; a blow."he received three strokes of the cane"synonyms: blow, hit, thump, thwack, punch, slap, smack, welt, cuff, box, knock, rap, buffet, wallop, clobber, clout, whack, bash, belt, sock, bop, biff, swipe, slug, smite
- a mark made by drawing a pen, pencil, or paintbrush in one direction across paper or canvas."the paint had been applied in careful, regular strokes"synonyms: mark, line, slash, solidus, virgule
- an act of moving one's hand across a surface with gentle pressure."massage the cream into your skin using light upward strokes"
- a movement, especially one of a series, in which something moves out of its position and back into it; a beat."the ray swam with effortless strokes of its huge wings"
- a sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain, especially through thrombosis."he was left disabled by a stroke"synonyms: thrombosis, embolism, cerebral vascular accident, CVA, cerebral hemorrhage, ictus, seizure, apoplexy
verb
- move one's hand with gentle pressure over (a surface, especially hair, fur, or skin), typically repeatedly; caress."he put his hand on her hair and stroked it"synonyms: caress, fondle, pat, pet, touch, brush, rub, massage, knead, soothe, manipulate, finger, handle, feel, maul, tickle, paw
- act as the stroke of (a boat or crew)."he stroked Penn's rowing eight to victory"
- hit or kick (a ball) smoothly and deliberately."Miller calmly stroked three-pointers throughout the tournament"
People also ask
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May 26, 2023 · A stroke can occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked or there is sudden bleeding in the brain. There are two types of strokes.
Aug 3, 2024 · An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot, known as a thrombus, blocks or plugs an artery leading to the brain. A blood clot often forms in ...
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures).
May 15, 2024 · A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
A stroke is a life-threatening condition that happens when part of your brain doesn't have enough blood flow.
In medicine, a loss of blood flow to part of the brain, which damages brain tissue. Strokes are caused by blood clots and broken blood vessels in the brain.
Apr 22, 2024 · A stroke happens when there is a loss of blood flow to part of the brain. Your brain cells cannot get the oxygen and nutrients they need from blood.
A stroke occurs when a blockage or bleed of the blood vessels either interrupts or reduces the supply of blood to the brain.
An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies the brain becomes blocked or "clogged" and impairs blood flow to part of the brain.
[1] In its simplest form, stroke is an acute episode of focal neurological dysfunction that persists for more than 24 hours.