A stroke, also known as a brain attack, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or

cerebrovascular insult (CVI) is the sudden interruption or reduction in the oxygen rich
blood supply of the brain resulting in little or no blood flow. The brain cells are deprived
of the oxygen and glucose needed to survive therefore causing the cells to die. There
are 3 main types of stroke which each have different specific causes. These are:

Ischemic strokes which are the most common form of stroke, with around 85% of
strokes being of this type. They are caused by the arteries that connect to the brain
becoming blocked or narrowed, resulting in ischemia - severely reduced blood flow.
These blockages are often caused by blood clots, which can form either in the arteries
connecting to the brain, or further away before being swept through the bloodstream
and into narrower arteries within the brain. Clots can be caused by fatty deposits within
the arteries called plaque.

Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by arteries in the brain either leaking blood or bursting
open. The haemorrhaged blood puts pressure on brain cells and damages them. Blood
vessels can burst or spill blood in the middle of the brain or near the surface of the
brain, sending blood into the space between the brain and the skull. The ruptures can
be caused by conditions such as hypertension, trauma, blood-thinning medications
and aneurysms (weaknesses in blood vessel walls).

Transient Ischemic Strokes are different from the aforementioned kinds of stroke
because the flow of blood to the brain is only disrupted temporarily for a short time.
They are similar to ischemic strokes in that they are often caused by blood clots or other
debris. TIAs should be regarded as medical emergencies just like the other kinds of
stroke, even if the blockage of the artery is temporary. They serve as warning signs for
future strokes and indicate that there is a partially blocked artery or clot source in the
heart.

The most common symptoms of a stroke are:

 Weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body
 Loss of vision or dimming (like a curtain falling) in one or both eyes
 Loss of speech, difficulty talking, or understanding what others are saying
 Sudden, severe headache with no known cause possibly with altered consciousness or
vomiting.
 Loss of balance or unstable walking usually combined with another symptom including
dizziness and lack of co-ordination.
Strokes can lead to long-term problems. Depending on how quickly it is diagnosed and
treated, the patient can experience temporary or permanent disabilities in the aftermath
of a stroke. In addition to the problems listed above continuing, patients may also
experience the following:

 Bladder or bowel control problems

 Depression
 Pain in the hands and feet that gets worse with movement and temperature changes

 Paralysis or weakness on one or both sides of the body

 Trouble controlling or expressing emotions.

So basically sometimes situations occur where an individual would suddenly collapse

and temporarily lose consciousness due to the symptoms of a stroke. But since they
are uneducated about it or the people around them are uneducated the individual
would convince themselves and others around them that they are fine. It’s one of the
most common lie people tell themselves. There is a simple evaluation a person can
use to determine whether someone has experienced a stroke and this is done by
using the acronym fast.

 Face drooping: does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to
smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
 Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does
one arm drift downward?
 Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to
understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the
sentence repeated correctly?
 Time to call 911: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go
away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so
you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
 Up to 50% of all strokes are preventable by addressing the underlying causes. This is
best done by:

 Avoid illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin and hallucinogens

 Eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables and low in cholesterol and saturated fat
 Exercise regularly

 Keep blood pressure under control

 Keep diabetes under control

 Maintain a healthy weight

 Moderate alcohol consumption (or quit drinking)

 Quit smoking
 Treat obstructive sleep apnea (if present).