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National Stroke Association

The National Stroke Association is an excellent resource for anyone caring for a stroke survivor. The section of their website entitled “Life After Stroke, Survivor and Caregiver” offers valuable tips on memory loss, behavior, depression and daily living tasks as well as providing links to products and services for stroke survivors.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain stops. There are two different kinds of stroke. The most common is an ischemic stroke, caused by a blood clot that blocks a blood vessel or artery in the brain. The other, less common, is a hemorrhagic stroke, caused when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and spills blood into the surrounding tissue. Brain cells in the area begin to die, either because they stop getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to function, or they are killed by the rupture of the vessel and sudden spill of blood.

The symptoms of stroke happen immediately:

•Numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs (especially on one side of the body)
•Confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech
•Vision disturbances in one or both eyes
•Dizziness, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination
•Severe headache with no known cause

If you or someone else has these symptoms, seek immediate medical assistance. The longer blood flow is cut off to the brain, the greater the potential for permanent damage.

Doctors diagnose stroke by performing a short neurological examination, as well as blood tests, CT scans, MRI scans, Doppler ultrasound, and arteriography, if needed