A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding brain cells. Brain cells die when they no longer receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood or there is sudden bleeding into or around the brain.

There are two forms of stroke: ischemic - blockage of a blood vessel supplying the brain, and hemorrhagic - bleeding into or around the brain.

The symptoms of a stoke include sudden:

• numbness or weakness, especially on one the side of the body
• confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech
• trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• trouble with walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
• severe headache with no known cause

Treatment exists to help minimize the effects of a stroke, however it must be given within 3 hours of the first symptom. So, it is important for people to be able to recognize the symptoms of stroke and seek emergency medical attention. Recognizing stroke symptoms can be easy if you learn to think F.A.S.T.

F= Face        Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A= Arms       Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S= Speech    Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is speech slurred or sounds strange?

T= Time       If you observe any of these signs, seek help. Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital.

Although stroke is a disease of the brain, it can affect the entire body. A common disability that results from stroke is complete paralysis on one side of the body, called hemiplegia. A related disability that is not as debilitating as paralysis is one-sided weakness or hemiparesis.

Stroke may cause problems with thinking, awareness, attention, learning, judgment, and memory. Stroke survivors often have problems understanding or forming speech. A stroke can lead to emotional problems and many stroke patients experience depression. Stroke survivors may also have numbness or strange sensations. The pain is often worse in the hands and feet and is made worse by movement and temperature changes, especially cold temperatures.

Recurrent stroke is frequent; about 25 percent of people who recover from their first stroke will have another stroke within 5 years.

Stroke is one of the most preventable of all life-threatening health problems, provided that you pay proper attention to lifestyle and medical risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. 

Stroke Prevention Guidelines include:

• Keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating a balance diet
• Quitting smoking
• Drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation

Women are especially at a higher risk for stroke if they are diabetic, pregnant, menopausal/on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or have high blood pressure (hypertension) or migraine headaches.