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Stroke
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Blood Heart Circulation

Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen and nutrients; immediate medical intervention is critical to prevent lasting damage or death.

Overview

A stroke happens when there is a loss of blood flow to part of the brain. Your brain cells cannot get the oxygen and nutrients they need from blood, and they start to die within a few minutes. This can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.

If you think that you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 right away. Immediate treatment may save someone's life and increase the chances for successful rehabilitation and recovery.

Types of Stroke

There are two types of stroke:

  • Ischemic stroke: Caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. This is the most common type; about 80% of strokes are ischemic.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke: Caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain.

Another condition that's similar to a stroke is a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a "mini-stroke." TIAs happen when the blood supply to the brain is blocked for a short time. The damage to the brain cells isn't permanent, but having a TIA puts you at much higher risk of having a stroke.

Causes & Risk Factors

The major risk factors for stroke include:

  • High blood pressure: The primary risk factor for a stroke.
  • Diabetes.
  • Heart diseases: Atrial fibrillation and other heart diseases can cause blood clots that lead to stroke.
  • Smoking: Damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure.
  • A personal or family history of stroke or TIA.
  • Age: Your risk of stroke increases as you get older.
  • Race and ethnicity: People who are African American or Hispanic have a higher risk of stroke.

Other factors linked to a higher risk include alcohol and illegal drug use, lack of physical activity, high cholesterol, unhealthy diet, and obesity.

Symptoms

Symptoms often happen quickly and include:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause

The F.A.S.T. test can help you identify a stroke:

  • F (Face): Drooping on one side when smiling.
  • A (Arm): Weakness occurs when the arms are raised, and one arm drifts downward.
  • S (Speech): Slurred or strange.
  • T (Time): Time to call 911.

Diagnosis

To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will:

  • Ask about your symptoms and medical history.
  • Perform a physical exam, checking mental alertness, coordination, balance, numbness, weakness, and speech/vision.
  • Run tests, which may include diagnostic imaging (CT scan or MRI) and heart tests (electrocardiogram or echocardiography).

Treatment & Management

Treatments include medicines, surgery, and rehabilitation, categorized by the stage of care:

  • Acute treatment: To stop a stroke while it is happening. For ischemic strokes, this may include tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) to dissolve clots, or medicines to prevent platelet clumping or thin the blood. For hemorrhagic strokes, treatment focuses on stopping the bleeding, which may involve blood pressure medication, aneurysm clipping, coil embolization, or AVM repair.
  • Post-stroke rehabilitation: To help you relearn skills and regain independence.
  • Prevention: Heart-healthy lifestyle changes (healthy diet, weight management, stress management, physical activity, quitting smoking) and medications to control risk factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

The FAST mnemonic is key: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call emergency services. Strokes often cause sudden, unilateral weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, and facial asymmetry. Migraines usually have a gradual onset of headache with visual aura, while seizures involve loss of consciousness, rhythmic jerking, and post‑ictal confusion. Any sudden, focal neurological change should be treated as a possible stroke.
You should be evaluated within 24‑48 hours. A typical work‑up includes brain imaging (CT or MRI), carotid ultrasound or CTA to assess for plaque, cardiac monitoring (ECG, Holter) for atrial fibrillation, blood tests for cholesterol, glucose, and coagulation status, and sometimes a trans‑esophageal echocardiogram. Early assessment helps identify the cause and start preventive therapy.
Controlling blood pressure is the most powerful modifiable factor; aim for <130/80 mm Hg with medication and diet. Quit smoking, limit alcohol to ≤2 drinks/day for men and ≤1 for women, adopt a Mediterranean‑style diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and nuts, and engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. Managing diabetes and maintaining a healthy weight also markedly lower recurrence risk.
Continue your anticoagulant as directed; stopping can increase stroke risk. For small cuts, apply firm pressure with a clean gauze for 5‑10 minutes, then use a sterile bandage. Keep the wound clean and monitor for prolonged bleeding or expanding bruises. If bleeding does not stop after 15‑20 minutes, or if you develop a large hematoma, seek medical attention promptly.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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