A condition characterized by interruption or decreased blood supply to the brain. It starves the brain tissue of critical oxygen and nutrient supplies, which can cause the death of brain cells within minutes and paralysis in the related body areas. There are three primary forms of the disease, namely: (i) Ischemic stroke where a blood clot blocks blood and oxygen supply to a section of the brain. It's the most prevalent accounting for over 87 percent of the cases. (ii) Hemorrhagic stroke where an artery ruptures, usually because of arteriovenous malformations or aneurysms. (iii) Transient ischemic attack which occurs due to temporal decrease or insufficient blood supply to a brain region. Healthy blood flow resumes after a brief period.
Also Known As
- Brain Attack
- Cerebrovascular Accident
- CVA
