Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.
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The blockage of an artery in the brain by a clot (thrombosis) is the most common cause of a stroke. The part of the brain that is supplied by the clotted blood vessel is then deprived of blood and oxygen. As a result of the deprived blood and oxygen, the cells of that part of the brain die. Typically, a clot forms in a small blood vessel within the brain that has been previously narrowed due to a variety of risk factors including:
high blood pressure (hypertension),
high cholesterol,
diabetes, and
smoking.
SYMPTOMS OF STROKE -Small strokes may not cause any symptoms, but can still damage brain tissue. These strokes that do not cause symptoms are referred to as silent strokes.
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. The loss of voluntary movement and/or sensation may be complete or partial. There may also be an associated tingling sensation in the affected area.
Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding. Sometimes weakness in the muscles of the face can cause drooling.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause .

PLEASE VISIT THE SOURCE SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION :http://www.medicinenet.com/st roke/page3.htm

Answered by Sanya Tahir , an ibibo Master, at 11:52 AM on September 08, 2008

Stroke is often referred to by doctors as a cerebrovascular accident, but the term is not an accurate one since stroke is rarely an ‘accident’. The underlying conditions of a stroke (called cerebrovascular disease) are usually present for years before a stroke occurs, although the symptoms of a stroke may occur suddenly.

There are sometimes quite specific warning signs of an impending stroke. By recognising the warning signs and taking action, you may be able to prevent a stroke or reduce its severity. It is important to be able to recognise the warning signs in order to get medical help as quickly as possible
Symptoms of a TIA are very similar to those of a stroke. They can include:
A numb or weak feeling in the face, arm or leg
Trouble speaking or understanding
Unexplained dizziness
Blurred or poor vision in one or both eyes
Loss of balance or an unexplained fall
Difficulty swallowing
Headache (usually severe or of abrupt onset) or unexplained change in the pattern of headaches
Confusion
Unconsciousness.
The FAST test is an easy way to recognise and remember the signs of stroke or a TIA. Using the FAST test involves asking three simple questions. If the person has a problem with any of these functions, dial triple zero (000) for an ambulance immediately.
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Answered by Jyothi , an ibibo Master, at 12:24 PM on September 07, 2008

well tingtong!
A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. When blood flow to the brain is impaired, oxygen and glucose cannot be delivered to the brain. Blood flow can be compromised by a variety of mechanisms.

Blockage of an artery

Narrowing of the small arteries within the brain can cause a so-called lacunar stroke, (lacune=empty space). Blockage of a single arteriole can affect a tiny area of brain causing that tissue to die (infarct).


Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) leading to the brain. There are four major blood vessels that supply the brain with blood. The anterior circulation of the brain that controls most motor, activity, sensation, thought, speech, and emotion is supplied by the carotid arteries. The posterior circulation, which supplies the brainstem and the cerebellum, controlling the automatic parts of brain function and coordination, is supplied by the vertebrobasilar arteries.

If these arteries become narrow as a result of atherosclerosis, plaque or cholesterol, debris can break off and float downstream, clogging the blood supply to a part of the brain. As opposed to lacunar strokes, larger parts of the brain can lose blood supply, and this may produce more symptoms than a lacunar stroke.

Embolism to the brain from the heart. In situations in which blood clots form within the heart, the potential exists for small clots to break off and travel (embolize) to the arteries in the brain and cause a stroke.
Rupture of an artery (hemorrhage)

Cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding within the brain substance). The most common reason to have bleeding within the brain is uncontrolled high blood pressure. Other situations include aneurysms that leak or rupture or arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in which there is an abnormal collection of blood vessels that are fragile and can bleed.
and symptoms are When brain cells are deprived of oxygen, they cease to perform their usual tasks. The symptoms that follow a stroke depend on the area of the brain that has been affected and the amount of brain tissue damage.

Small strokes may not cause any symptoms, but can still damage brain tissue. These strokes that do not cause symptoms are referred to as silent strokes. According to The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), these are the five major signs of stroke:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. The loss of voluntary movement and/or sensation may be complete or partial. There may also be an associated tingling sensation in the affected area.
Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding. Sometimes weakness in the muscles of the face can cause drooling.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
for more inf check http://www.medicinenet.com/stroke/p age3.htm

Answered by sanjay , an ibibo Guru, at 11:25 AM on September 07, 2008

well, A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. When blood flow to the brain is impaired, oxygen and glucose cannot be delivered to the brain. Blood flow can be compromised by a variety of mechanisms.

When brain cells are deprived of oxygen, they cease to perform their usual tasks. The symptoms that follow a stroke depend on the area of the brain that has been affected and the amount of brain tissue damage.

Small strokes may not cause any symptoms, but can still damage brain tissue. These strokes that do not cause symptoms are referred to as silent strokes. According to The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), these are the five major signs of stroke:

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. The loss of voluntary movement and/or sensation may be complete or partial. There may also be an associated tingling sensation in the affected area.

2. Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding. Sometimes weakness in the muscles of the face can cause drooling.

3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

5. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Answered by Satya ~ , an ibibo Master, at 5:36 PM on September 06, 2008

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of your brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Within a few minutes, brain cells begin to die.

Stroke is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment of a stroke is crucial. Early treatment can minimize damage to your brain and potential stroke complications.

The good news is that strokes can be treated, and many fewer Americans now die of strokes than was the case 20 or 30 years ago. Improvement in the control of major risk factors for stroke — high blood pressure, smoking and high cholesterol — is likely responsible for the decline.

The symptoms of Stroke are

Trouble with walking. If you're having a stroke, you may stumble or have sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination.
Trouble with speaking. If you're having a stroke, you may slur your speech or may not be able to come up with words to explain what is happening (aphasia). Try to repeat a simple sentence. If you can't, you may be having a stroke.
Paralysis or numbness on one side of the body. If you're having a stroke, you may have sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. Try to raise both your arms over your head at the same time. If one arm begins to fall, you may be having a stroke.
Trouble with seeing. If you're having a stroke, you may suddenly have blurred or blackened vision or may see double.
Headache. A sudden, severe "bolt out of the blue" headache or an unusual headache, which may be accompanied by a stiff neck, facial pain, pain between your eyes, vomiting or altered consciousness, sometimes indicates you're having a stroke.
For most people, a stroke gives no warning. But one possible sign of an impending stroke is a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a temporary interruption of blood flow to a part of your brain. The signs and symptoms of TIA are the same as for a stroke, but they last for a shorter period — several minutes to 24 hours — and then disappear, without leaving apparent permanent effects. You may have more than one TIA, and the recurrent signs and symptoms may be similar or different.

A TIA may indicate that you're at risk of a full-blown stroke. People who have had a TIA are much more likely to have a stroke than are those who haven't had a TIA.

Answered by Vinay Kiran , an ibibo Specialist, at 5:03 PM on September 06, 2008

A stroke is the sudden death of a portion of the brain cells due to lack of oxygen. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is impaired resulting in abnormal brain function. Brain blood flow can be impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain.

Blockage of an artery of the brain by a clot (thrombosis), leading to deprivation of blood and oxygen, can cause a stroke. Typically, a clot will form in a blood vessel that has been previously narrowed due to atherosclerosis ("hardening of the artery").

When a blood clot or a piece of atherosclerotic plaque (cholesterol and calcium deposits on the wall of the artery) lodges in an artery of the brain, it blocks the flow of oxygen-rich blood.

A cerebral haemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds into the surrounding brain tissue. This too can be a cause of a stroke. All the above causes of stroke lead to deprivation of oxygen to the brain tissue and its resultant death.

Symptoms of Stroke:

The most common symptom is weakness or paralysis of one side of the body or the other. There may be partial or complete loss of voluntary movement of and/or sensation in a leg and/or arm. A stroke can result in speech problems and weakens muscles of the face, which can cause drooling. Numbness or tingling is very common. A stroke can cause difficulty inbreathing and even unconsciousness.

Answered by alok , an ibibo Master, at 12:01 PM on September 06, 2008

Strokes affect people in different ways. If you have a stroke you may not be able to move one side of your body, or you may have difficulty speaking or swallowing.

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off. You will have symptoms almost immediately, which is why a stroke happens without warning.

Without a supply of blood, your brain cells won't get enough food and oxygen. Because your brain has so many different functions, having a stroke can cause lots of different symptoms. The symptoms you get depend on which part of your brain is affected.

Answered by SESHAN , an ibibo Master, at 11:21 AM on September 06, 2008

well,Stroke is an interruption in blood supply to any part of the brain due to narrowed, blocked or ruptured arteries. This deprives brain of required oxygen and nutrition.

Subsequently, the affected brain cells die, and in most cases, stroke leads to paralysis or physical deformity.

Symptoms of Stroke

Dizziness followed by nausea and vomiting, followed by weakness of the body is the main symptom.
Severe headache, convulsion, coma, paralysis on one side, inability to speak and recall words are the other symptoms.
Deep coma, stiffness in neck and high fever occur in severe cases and sometimes lead to permanent disability.

Answered by Debashis , an ibibo Master, at 9:03 AM on September 06, 2008

Stroke is nothing but heart attack.some times it is silent and sometimes it is massive.It is characterized by chest discomfort.There can also be symptoms i other parts of the body.Other signs can b breaking out in a cold sweat too.Emergency Medical services need to be gotten or them immediately. Abnormal breathing inability to respond to touch or feeling are two of the symptoms.

Answered by Vida Writer , an ibibo Master, at 4:28 AM on September 06, 2008

stroke is a condition in which is due to loss of blood supply to brain cells..

for normal survival of cells,constant blood supply is required..
if blood supply is lost then there is cell death...

it is also called cerebrovascular accident..

as brain cells die.., functions of that part of brain are affected..

based on damage symptoms are seen..

commonly a FAST test is done for it,.. F-face is looked to see if there is loss of any muscle tone,
A-arms are stretched out for 30 sec, people havin stroke cant hold it and it starts falling down
S-speech is heard cerefully to note any slurring of speech.. T-test

for further info on speech check out this page.
http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Stroke#Signs_and_symptom s

Answered by alok , an ibibo Citizen, at 1:04 AM on September 06, 2008