The brain controls everything we do — from our most complex thoughts to basic functions like walking and talking. And a healthy brain depends on healthy blood flow — blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain’s 86 billion cells. When that blood flow is interrupted and can’t reach a part of the brain, it’s called a stroke. A stroke is also known as a “brain attack,” and for a good reason — the damage can be catastrophic.

Types Of Strokes
There are many types of strokes, but the most common are ischemic and hemorrhagic, which are caused by clotting and bleeding, respectively.

  • Ischemic Strokes (clots) – Occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is blocked. It is the most common type, accounting for 87% of strokes.
  • Hemorrhagic Strokes (bleeds) – Occurs when a ruptured blood vessel causes bleeding in the brain and stops oxygen and nutrients from reaching brain cells.

A Stroke’s Impact
Brain cells can survive without oxygen for a short time, but not very long. Once these cells die, they cannot be resuscitated, and the functions controlled by that part of the brain are lost permanently. This is why a stroke’s impact depends on what part of the brain is affected.

A stroke can impair many abilities, including:

  • Movement and sensation
  • Speech and language
  • Eating and swallowing
  • Vision
  • Cognitive (thinking, reasoning, judgment, and memory) ability
  • Perception and orientation to surroundings
  • Self-care ability
  • Bowel and bladder control
  • Emotional control

Stroke Stats

  • 75% of strokes affect people 65 or older.
  • The chance of having a stroke doubles every decade after 55 years old.
  • 800,000 people a year have a stroke — one person every 40 seconds.
  • Stroke is the third leading cause of death among Americans — killing about 140,000 people yearly.

Learn more about strokes and the diagnosis of strokes and how to B.E.F.A.S.T.