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Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States
after heart disease, cancer, and lower respiratory disease. It
is also a leading cause of adult disability. Although more
strokes occur in the elderly, stroke is also a major cause of
disability and death among middle-aged people. Strokes occur
when something interferes with the normal flow of blood to the
central nervous system. Ischemic strokes are caused by blood
clots or cholesterol plaques that block the flow of blood
through arteries. Hemorrhages occur when arteries burst inside
of, or on, the brain surface. When blood flow is interrupted,
the brain doesn't get the oxygen and nutrients it needs, and
cells begin to die. Relatively few brain cells will be affected
if the interruption is brief, and the person may recover fully.
Otherwise, the damage may vary in the degree of severity and can
be permanent. The part of the brain that's damaged depends on
the location of the stroke