A stroke, sometimes called a “brain attack,” occurs when blood
flow to the brain is interrupted. While a stroke is occurring,
it is referred to as the acute phase of a stroke. Brain cells in
the immediate area begin to die because they stop getting the
oxygen and nutrients they need to function. As brain cells die,
abilities controlled by that area of the brain are impaired. The
impact from a stroke ranges from mild to severe, and can include
paralysis and impairments of function such as speech, movement,
and memory. Specific abilities lost or affected depend on the
location of the stroke in the brain and the amount of damage the
stroke caused. There are two major kinds of stroke. The first,
known as an ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that
blocks a blood vessel to the brain. Approximately 87 percent of
strokes are acute ischemic. The second, known as a hemorrhagic
stroke, is caused by a blood vessel in the brain that breaks or
ruptures spilling blood into the brain. - Stroke is an
emergency...think