What is stroke?
Stroke, also called a brain attack, happens when the arteries leading to the brain are blocked or rupture. When the brain does not receive the needed oxygen supply, the brain cells begin to die. A stroke can cause paralysis, inability to talk, inability to understand, and other conditions brought on by brain damage.

What are the different types of strokes?
There are four main types of stroke:

• cerebral thrombosis - caused by blood clots
• cerebral embolism - caused by blood clots
• cerebral hemorrhages - caused by bleeding inside the brain
• subarachnoid hemorrhages - caused by bleeding inside the brain

Cerebral thrombosis and cerebral embolism are the most common types of brain attacks, accounting for about 70-80 percent of all strokes.

• cerebral thrombosis:

• is the most common type of brain attack.

• occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms and blocks blood flow in an artery leading to the brain -- arteries primarily affected by atherosclerosis are more susceptible to blood clots.

• most often occurs at night or first thing in the morning when blood pressure is low.

• is often preceded by a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or "mini-stroke."

• cerebral embolism:

• occurs when a wandering clot (embolus) or some other particle forms in a blood vessel away from the brain -- usually in the heart. The clot then travels and lodges in an artery leading to the brain or in the brain.

• About 15 percent of strokes occur in people with atrial fibrillation, a cardiac disorder in which the upper chambers of the heart do not beat effectively.

• cerebral hemorrhages - occur when a defective artery in the brain bursts.

• subarachnoid hemorrhages - occur when a blood vessel on the surface of the brain ruptures and bleeds into the space between the brain and the skull.

Problems resulting from stroke:
Problems resulting from stroke may include the following:

• temporary or permanent impairment including weakness on one side of the body
  
  
• problems with balance and/or coordination
  
  
• difficulties with speech and memory
  
  
• problems with vision or reading
  
  
• trouble swallowing
  
  
• pain
  
  
• numbness
  
  
• depression and/or sudden outbursts of emotions
  
  
• problems with being unaware of the effects of the stroke
  
  
• problems concentrating, thinking, learning, or making decisions
  
  
• loss of energy and/or chronic fatigue