Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the
arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a
blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is
either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of
the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it starts
to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities
controlled by that area of the brain are lost. These abilities
include speech, movement and memory. How a person is affected
depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the
brain is damaged. ||Signs and Symptoms - Sudden numbness or
weakness of the face, arm or leg especially on one side of the
body - Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding -
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes - Sudden trouble
walking, dizziness or loss of balance - Sudden severe headache
with no known cause The National Stroke Association educates the
public to recognize stroke symptoms and to Act F.A.S.T. Face -
Ask the person to smile. Doe