The warning signs of a heart attack are nearly universally
recognized, but the signs of a brain attack, or stroke, may not
be familiar to many Americans. May is National Stroke Awareness
Month, a time when national agencies come together to educate
the public about the risk factors for stroke, and how to lower
those risks. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain
is impeded. When the brain loses vital blood and oxygen, even
briefly, brain cells begin to die and there is a risk of long-
term brain damage. There are two types of strokes. An ischemic
stroke is the most common type of attack and is caused by
blocked arteries, either by a blood clot or by the gradual
building up of plaque. Less common is a hemorrhagic stroke,
caused by a blood vessel in the brain leaking or bursting
altogether. While hemorrhagic strokes are less common, they
cause more than 30 percent of all stroke deaths. For more on
this story, see the May 3 issue of the Navarre Press, or
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