Stroke

This is a slow down or blockage of the blood that normally flows to part of your brain. When it happens, your brain cells don't get the oxygen and nutrients they need. Within minutes, they begin to die.

Learn what a TIA is, how it is a serious warning sign for a stroke, and the importance of calling 911 if someone is showing the signs of having a TIA.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called a ministroke stroke, causes symptoms similar to those of a stroke. The difference is that TIAs don't cause permanent brain damage. This video explains what happens during a TIA, what you should do if you have symptoms, and what treatment is available.

Watch this to learn about three different types of strokes.

Most strokes are preventable, learn how to lessen your risk.

Having a stroke can change many things in your life. Learn about the common effects of stroke.

Understand the controllable and uncontrollable risk factors that increase your chance for having a stroke.

Learn how exercise can help your recovery from stroke and lessen your chance for a future stroke.

Your risk for stroke is tied to a lot of factors. Some things (like your age and family history) you can't control. But you do have control over many others. So if you're worried about your risk, focus on these healthy habits.

The effects of a stroke and how long they may last depend on several factors, including the location and size of the brain injury, the quality and quantity of medical care received, the strength of one's support circle and his/her will to get better. © AHA

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in America today. It's also a major cause of severe, long-term disability. To protect yourself and your loved ones from the serious effects of stroke, you should learn your risk factors, reduce your risk factors, learn the warning signs of stroke and know what to do if you notice warning signs. © AHA

During a stroke, fast action is key. Getting help quickly can be the difference between life and death. Fortunately, there are many warning signs that show you a stroke is happening. So get help immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms.

This is bleeding that happens inside your brain. Most often, it's a rupture of tiny arteries in your brain. It can happen deep within the brain, or near the brain's surface. It leads to stroke and to a dangerous buildup of pressure in the brain.

This is bleeding that happens between your brain and the membrane that surrounds it. It leads to stroke and to a dangerous buildup of pressure in your brain.

There are various types of heart and blood vessel diseases. Many of them can be prevented when you take these key steps. © AHA

It's critical to diagnose a stroke in progress because the treatment for stroke depends on the type of stroke, and, in some cases, the location of the injury to the brain. Other conditions with similar symptoms to stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) will need to be ruled out to diagnose stroke. Some of these include seizures, fainting, migraine headaches, heart problems or other general medical conditions. © AHA

About 13 percent of strokes happen when a blood vessel ruptures in or near the brain. This is called a hemorrhagic stroke. When a hemorrhagic stroke happens, blood collects in the brain tissue. This is toxic for the brain tissue causing the cells in that area to weaken and die. © AHA

High blood pressure means that the force of the blood pushing against the blood vessel walls is consistently in the high range. Uncontrolled HBP can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. © AHA

The majority of strokes occur when blood vessels to the brain become narrowed or clogged with fatty deposits called plaque. This cuts off blood flow to brain cells. A stroke caused by lack of blood reaching part of the brain is called an ischemic stroke. High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for ischemic stroke. © AHA

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is often called a mini-stroke, but it's really a warning stroke. TIA and stroke symptoms are the same, although most TIA symptoms last only a few minutes (but up to 24 hours). While TIAs generally do not cause permanent brain damage, they are major warnings and should not be ignored. © AHA

Many strokes may be prevented through blood pressure control, a healthy diet, regular physical activity and smoking cessation. Each plays a big part in decreasing your risk for stroke, disability or even death. © AHA

There are risk factors that can lead to stroke that you can control and risk factors you can't control. Learn which ones you can change or treat and know which risk factors are out of your control. © AHA

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. It can cause permanent disability or even death. Although stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death, Hispanic people in the U.S. face an even higher risk. It's the No. 4 cause of death for Hispanic men and No. 3 for women. © AHA

Stroke — the fifth leading cause of death in America — is a "brain attack" that occurs when blood that brings oxygen to your brain stops flowing and brain cells die. Black Americans have a higher prevalence of stroke and highest death rate from stroke than any other racial group. © AHA

Adults who have diabetes are two times as likely to have a stroke compared to people who do not have diabetes. The connection between diabetes and stroke has to do with the way the body handles blood glucose to make energy. © AHA

Stroke occurs when a blood vessel bringing blood and oxygen to the brain gets blocked by a clot or ruptures. When this happens, brain cells don't get the blood and oxygen that they need to survive. This causes nerve cells to stop working and die within minutes. Then, the part of the body they control are affected. The effects of stroke may be permanent depending on how many cells die, where they are in the brain, and other factors. © AHA

This Post-Stroke Checklist has been developed to help healthcare professionals identify decline or changes in post-stroke function and cognition that may respond well to treatment and/or referral. It is a brief and easy-to-use tool, intended for completion with the patient and the help of a caregiver, if necessary. © AHA

A hemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or leaks. A blood vessel on the surface of the brain bursts (hemorrhages). This spills blood into the surrounding tissue. This type of stroke often happens suddenly, with little warning.

The earlier treatment for a stroke is started after symptoms begin, the more likely you are to survive and recover. Here is what you can expect during treatment.

Every part of your body, including your heart and your brain, needs oxygen to work. Oxygen is carried in the blood. Blood vessels called arteries carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Both heart attack and stroke are due to problems in the arteries. The same factors that cause heart disease can make you more likely to have a stroke.

This type of stroke can have a wide range of effects in the body and cause a broad range of symptoms.

Most strokes are caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that supplies the brain. They can also occur if a blood vessel in the brain ruptures (bursts open).

A TIA (transient ischemic attack) is an early warning that a stroke (also called a brain attack) is coming. A TIA is a temporary stroke. It causes no lasting damage. But the effects of a stroke, if it happens, can be very serious and lasting. Here are symptoms to watch for.

When the carotid arteries are healthy, the brain gets all the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function well. If the carotid arteries are damaged, however, it can greatly increase your chances of stroke.

The Hunt-Hess scale helps the doctor assess a patient's condition.

Each day that your blood pressure is too high, your chances of having a stroke are increased.

You have an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). An AVM is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels in the brain. Some AVMs never burst (rupture). But there are factors that can lead to rupture. If you have an AVM, you were likely born with it. But most people don't know they have one until a problem happens.

Here you will find out how to prepare for AVM surgery, what to expect the day of surgery, and the risks of surgery.

The brain needs a constant supply of blood to work. During a stroke, blood stops flowing to part of the brain.

Certain health and lifestyle issues - called risk factors - increase your chances of having a stroke. This page helps you identify which risk factors you have.

A stroke requires immediate medical attention. Know the signs of stroke.

Eating healthy foods helps lower cholesterol levels and reduce plaque buildup in arteries. It can also help you lose weight and keep high blood pressure under control.

After a stroke, you may not be able to do everything you used to. But there are still simple ways you can stay active.

Breaking old habits can be hard. But when your health is at stake, it's never too late to make changes for the better. Some lifestyle changes might be easy for you. Others might be tough.

A subdural hematoma is a buildup of blood on the surface of the brain. The blood builds up in a space between the layers that surround your brain.

A carotid dissection is a tear in the inner layer of an artery in the neck. You have one carotid artery on each side of your neck. These arteries send blood to your brain.

This test makes X-ray images of blood vessels in your brain. It is used to help your doctor find problems with those blood vessels.

Carotid artery disease causes a narrowing of the major blood vessels that supply the brain. It is caused by atherosclerosis and can lead to a stroke.

Fast action during a stroke can be the difference between life and death. Fortunately, there are many stroke warning signs. To help you remember the signs and how to respond, just use the word "FAST." That's F-A-S-T.

You can have a stroke that lasts for only a few minutes and then seems to go away. We call that a "mini-stroke." It happens when part of your brain's blood supply is blocked for a short time. But even if your symptoms disappear, a mini-stroke is a dangerous event. You need to seek help right away.

Your brain is divided into left and right halves, called "hemispheres." They specialize in different things. Because of this, a stroke on the left side of your brain can be very different from a stroke on the brain's right side. Let's look at some symptoms of a left brain stroke.

Your brain is divided into left and right halves, called "hemispheres." They specialize in different things. Because of this, a stroke on the right side of your brain can be very different from a stroke on the brain's left side. Let's look at some symptoms of a right brain stroke.

During a stroke, blood stops flowing to part of the brain. This can damage areas in the brain that control the rest of the body. Get help right away if any of these symptoms come on suddenly, even if the symptoms don't last.

Learning to recognize stroke symptoms, or the symptoms of a transient ischemic attack, can help to lessen the damage for you or someone else.

Many heart attacks and strokes are caused by blood clots that block the flow of blood to the heart or brain. In these cases, rapid intervention from a medical professional with a clot-dissolving drug can reduce the damage caused by the blood clot.

Learn which medications are used to treat stroke and help reduce the risk of a future stroke.

Learn what a stroke is and the importance of getting help right away.

Listen to a stroke patient's story to learn how he overcame obstacles in his physical and emotional recovery process.

This procedure improves blood flow in a neck artery that's clogged with plaque. You have two carotid arteries, one on each side of your neck. They supply blood to your brain. When blood can't get through these arteries, you can have a stroke.

Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove plaque buildup in the carotid arteries. © AHA

It is estimated that 30% (200,000) of ischemic strokes in the U.S. are cryptogenic — meaning the cause is unknown. This video by American Stroke Association explains diagnosis and treatment.

An ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked. This is most often due to a blood clot in an artery in the brain or an artery leading to the brain. Treatment is needed right away to help dissolve the clot and restore normal blood flow.

Vertebral artery dissection is the most common causes of stroke in young and middle-aged adults, but it can occur at any age.

After a stroke, a person may feel sudden or extreme emotions. Sadness and depression are common. These feelings may be due to damage in the brain. Or they may be a response to the person's awareness of what has happened.

Follow the swallowing guide below. Your speech therapist will check off the boxes that apply to you.

You have narrowing of a blood vessel or carotid artery in your neck. It is caused by a substance called plaque that has built up in your artery. This can cause a transient ischemic attack or TIA. Here is information on surgery to help your condition.

Know what the options are for treating a brain aneurysm.

Embolization is a procedure used to treat a brain aneurysm. Learn about how it's done, and possible risks.

Carotid artery stenting can help reduce the chance that you will have a stroke. Be sure to follow the instructions below and any other instructions your healthcare provider gives you.

Carotid endarterectomy removes plaque that has built up in your carotid artery. This helps reduce your risk for stroke. Be sure to follow all of the instructions you are given.

After a stroke, a person may have trouble using all or part of the body. Improving posture, range of motion, and strength are early goals.

Some people have trouble swallowing (dysphagia) after a stroke. This makes choking more likely. It also puts their health at further risk for conditions like aspiration pneumonia. To maintain nutritional needs, a speech therapist may teach your loved one ways to improve swallowing.

After a stroke, people can regain a sense of power by helping to take care of themselves. Many can learn ways to manage a lack of bowel and bladder control. And using impaired arms and legs to bathe and dress helps regain muscle strength. In fact, daily use of affected hands often helps bring back function.

Your carotid dissection may need to be treated in a hospital. Treatment choices depend on your age, overall health, and symptoms.

Angioplasty and stenting is a type of procedure to improve the blood flow in an artery or vein.

Transcranial doppler is a kind of imaging test that looks at blood flow in your brain. It uses special sound waves and a computer to see how well blood is moving through blood vessels in real time.

Tests that may be used to help diagnose a stroke include a CT scan or MRI, and an electroencephalogram.

TCAR is a type of treatment for carotid artery disease. TCAR helps prevent a stroke by unblocking a blocked artery.

Rehab services are provided in many different places, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community health centers. Read on to learn about what to look for when choosing a rehab facility and services.

Watching this will show how a stroke recovery plan can help guide your care after suffering a stroke with the goal of regaining any lost function and reducing your risk of experiencing another stroke.

Many people will help with your recovery. Watch this to understand who makes up your recovery team.

When you have a stroke, it also affects the people that love and support you. Learn how a stroke may affect your caregivers, and what steps you can take to support them.

Watch this to learn how a stroke can affect how someone moves, thinks, and feels.

After a stroke, you may have problems doing daily activities. Watch this to learn the benefits of stroke rehab.

Learn how support groups can help stroke survivors and caregivers.

Watch common strategies that can help patients and caregivers deal with the feelings and frustrations often experienced with stroke.

Learn about how it is decided by you and your care team and what is the best place for you to go to continue your recovery after leaving the hospital.

Learn what resources may be available to help you with your medical bills.

A stroke, or brain attack, can have long lasting effects on your body and mind. Hear from stroke survivors and caregivers about the challenges they face, and how they cope with them. Plus, a neurologist explains the process of stroke rehabilitation and the roles of the rehab team.

Stroke survivors, caregivers, and neurologists explain physical and occupational therapy and the important roles both play in recovery from stroke.

Stroke can cause problems with speaking, finding,and understanding words, difficulties with memory, and other communication issues. Hear from stroke survivors, caregivers, and clinical experts about how rehabilitation and coping strategies can help improve speech and communication issues both in the hospital and at home.

A stroke causes major changes that can impact all aspects of your life, including your emotional well-being. In addition, stroke damage to certain parts of the brain can affect both emotions and behavior. Learn about support groups for stroke survivors, strategies for coping with emotional distress, and how caregivers can help themselves while helping their loved ones.

If you've had a stroke, you're likely facing some unexpected challenges. Strokes affect different people in different ways, and every recovery is unique. But here are some things you'll need to consider.

After a stroke, survivors often experience emotional, behavioral and cognitive changes. That's because stroke affects the brain, which controls our emotions, behavior and thinking. These changes are common and vary greatly.

Understand how certain features of a home, including floor coverings, passageway widths, and grade changes can pose challenges for stroke survivors. Learn how to make simple changes to your home to make it easier and safer to navigate. © AHA

Learn how making modifications to your kitchen can help make cooking safer and easier. © AHA

Learn that certain modifications made to your bathroom will help make tasks easier and safer to complete. © AHA

Learn that many challenges experienced in the bedroom can be resolved with low-cost to no-cost modifications to match your abilities. © AHA

Learn tips for safely transferring with a wheelchair. © AHA

Just after a stroke, it's common for people to experience emotional changes. You may have drastic mood swings from one minute to the next. Your reaction to things may not make sense. This can be surprising and confusing to you and to those around you. But it's a normal part of recovery.

To help you adjust to your new responsibilities as stroke caregiver, this resource will help you find the emotional care and support you need from your community, family and friends. © AHA

As a new caregiver, getting a grasp of legal, financial and health issues can be overwhelming. This resource will provide a quick overview to get you started. © AHA

As a caregiver, communicating with the healthcare team can help you understand what happened during your loved one's stroke, what to expect during the recovery process and how to help him/her recover. As a result, you can feel less stressed and overwhelmed. © AHA

Your brain controls how you move, feel, communicate, think and act. Brain injury from a stroke may affect any of these abilities. Some changes are common, no matter where the injury occurs in the brain. Others are based on which side of the brain the stroke injures. © AHA

The treating doctor's highest priorities are to prevent complications that can occur as a result from the stroke and to prevent another stroke. Your doctor must determine that you are medically stable and able to resume some self-care activities. This means that all complications must be treated and under control. Some things happen as a direct result of injury to the brain due to stroke. Others are because of a change in your abilities. For example, being unable to move freely can result in bedsores. Clinical depression can also occur with a stroke. © AHA

Driving is often a major concern after a stroke. It's not unusual for stroke survivors to want to drive. Getting around after a stroke is important — but safety is even more important. © AHA

After a stroke, muscles may become stiff, tighten up and resist stretching. This is called spasticity. Spasticity relates to muscle tone. Tone is the natural tension, or contraction, in a muscle that resists stretching. Stroke may cause an abnormal increase in muscle tone, leading to spasticity. © AHA

After a stroke, many survivors develop post-stroke fatigue, which means they may feel more tired or lack energy. They can experience this fatigue at any time after their stroke, regardless of what type of stroke they had. For some, this feeling may continue for years, but they usually find ways to make the most of the energy they have. © AHA

The brain is an extremely complex organ that controls countless body functions. Depending on the location and extent of brain tissue affected due to your stroke, you may have different vision issues, such as reading problems, poor visual memory and decreased depth perception and balance. © AHA

Most stroke survivors are able to return home and resume many of the activities they did before the stroke. Leaving the hospital may seem scary at first because so many things may have changed. The hospital staff can help prepare you to go home or to another setting that can better meet your needs. © AHA

Aphasia is a language disorder that impairs the ability to communicate. It's most often caused by stroke-related injuries to areas of the brain that control speech and language. © AHA

There is life - and hope - after stroke. Rehabilitation (rehab) can build your strength, capability and confidence. It can help you continue your daily activities despite the effects of your stroke. © AHA

Everyone involved in helping a stroke survivor is a caregiver. It can be the spouse, family members or friends. Often one person, spouse, adult child or parent, will provide most of the care. It's important that caregivers and stroke survivors strive to be "care partners" in their efforts. © AHA

Navigating relationships with a family member or friend who's had a stroke can be challenging. The brain is an extremely complex organ that controls various body functions, and physical emotional changes, even if temporary, are common post-stroke. © AHA

Housework may pose challenges for individuals who have had a stroke. Often these challenges can be resolved with simple modifications to the task, the tools or the environment. Read this to find out how. © AHA

People who assist stroke survivors are often called caregivers. It can be the spouse, family members or friends. Often, one person — spouse, adult child or parent — provides most of the care. It's important that caregivers and stroke survivors be "care partners." The challenges to adjust to your new role may be easier if both share in decision-making. It's also important to share how you're feeling. © AHA

After a stroke, it may take some time before you feel ready to have sex again. Reading this sheet can help you understand some of what you're feeling. It can also help you work with your partner to rebuild intimacy and find ways to enjoy sex again.

When blood supply is cut off from the brain, cells begin to die from lack of oxygen. Within minutes, skills such as reasoning, speech, and some degree of arm, leg, or facial movement may be lost. The type of skills and the amount of loss depend on which part of the brain was affected, and how much tissue was damaged.

A femoral endarterectomy is surgery to restore blood flow through a large blood vessel in the groin area.

When your loved one returns home, you'll both need time to adjust. Here are tips for home care.

After being released from rehab, your loved one may need ongoing therapy or nursing care. Talk with a social worker or case manager about planning for care and local sources of support.

Performing your routine tasks may be difficult after you've had a stroke (brain attack). But many people can learn ways to manage their daily activities.

Endarterectomy is the removal of plaque from the carotid artery through an incision in the neck. This surgery has a low risk of stroke or complication (1% to 3%). It typically involves a quick recovery with little pain.

After surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery area. Later, you may be moved to a regular hospital room where you'll stay for 1 or 2 days.

You'll start feeling back to normal a day or 2 after getting home. But don't forget that you just had surgery. Here is information to speed your recovery.

Your hospital stay depends on the amount of damage caused by the aneurysm, your health, and your response to treatment and therapy. Your healthcare team will monitor how well treatment has worked and will decide whether you need rehabilitation.

An aneurysm may have affected your loved one's body functions, skills, and emotions. He or she may move on to a skilled nursing facility, a rehabilitation center, or go home and return for therapy as an outpatient.

It's important to get medical attention for an AVM as soon as possible. Often, immediate treatment may help prevent serious complications of some AVMs. Current surgical methods make treatment for AVM safer and more effective than ever. The goal of treatment is to stop the flow of blood within the AVM and to prevent it from re-bleeding.

After AVM surgery is completed, the surgeon will talk with your family and friends. You'll wake up in a recovery area. Then you'll be moved to a special unit, often an ICU (Intensive Care Unit), where you can be closely monitored.

This procedure was done to reduce your risk of a stroke, which can occur when the carotid arteries are severely blocked or narrowed. Here is information to help you care for yourself at home.

Here's how to care for yourself at home when you've been diagnosed with a stroke, or have a high risk for stroke.

You have been diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack (TIA). You can think of a TIA as a temporary or mini-stroke. If you think you are having symptoms of a TIA or stroke, get medical help right away - even if the symptoms go away.

After carotid artery stenting, you will most likely stay overnight in the hospital for care and monitoring. Here is what you can expect at the hospital.

During the surgical procedure, a long thin tube called a catheter is inserted into the artery. This is used to move instruments through the artery to put the stent in place. Here is information about the procedure.

You'll watch your incision site for bleeding, and take all medicines exactly as prescribed. You'll take it easy, but try to get back to your normal routine as much as possible.

Many people who have a stroke are left with problems with one of their arms. Proper arm care after a stroke can help treat these problems with your arm. It can also help prevent new problems from starting.

Angioplasty and stenting is a type of procedure to improve the blood flow in an artery or vein.

Many people who have a stroke have problems with the arm and leg on one side of their body. Good positioning after a stroke can help treat problems with your affected arm, leg, and vision. It can also help prevent new problems from developing.

You had a procedure called cerebral angiography. This is an X-ray study of the blood vessels that supply your brain. Here's what to do at home afterward.