Here is a summary of the important facts and information related
to stroke. - A brain attack or stroke happens when a part of the
brain is damaged by a change in blood flow. This change can
happen if something blocks the flow of blood to the brain or if
a blood vessel bursts and causes bleeding in the brain. - In
many cases, a stroke can happen without warning. But some people
do experience "mini-strokes," called TIAs, which are exactly
like a stroke but last only a short time. A TIA, like a stroke,
is considered a medical emergency and should never be ignored. -
The signs of stroke are sudden weakness or numbness on one side
of the body, sudden loss of vision or speech, sudden severe
headaches, or unexplained dizziness that comes on quickly. -
Some risk factors for stroke, such as age and race, cannot be
changed. But there are steps you can take to reduce other risk
factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and
cigarette smoking. - If a brain attack does happen, medical
treatments can be given