The Arc of Western Wayne County: Serving people with disabilities

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What is a Stroke?

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked, either because of a clot in one of the blood vessels or because a vessel burst.  The brain doesn't get the amount of blood it needs flowing into it, which deprives nerve cells of oxygen.  The brain cells begin to die within minutes.  When these cells die, the parts of the body controlled by those cells can't function.  Think of a stroke as a heart attack that happens to your brain.

Cerebral thrombosis happens when a blood clot blocks the blood flow to part of the brain.  A Cerebral embolism involves a clot that forms somewhere else in the body and travels through the bloodstream and lodges in an artery leading to the brain.

A stroke is a cardiovascular disease.  Hardening of the arteries or blockages caused by a high fat, high cholesterol diets can lead to a stroke.  Certain other conditions contribute to a greater risk for stroke, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

If you would like more information on strokes, contact the American Stroke Association at 888-478-7653 or online at www.strokeassociation.org.

Phone code: 1734