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From the American Heart Association/American Stroke
Association 2004 Update on Heart Disease and Stroke statistics1, in
the United States, stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death. Someone has a
stroke about every 45 seconds which amounts to over 700,000 people who have a
stroke each year. 500,000 of these are first attacks. Stroke accounted for 1
out of every 15 deaths in the United States in 2001 with half of these deaths
occurring out of the hospital.
A stroke or "brain attack" occurs when
the blood supply to the brain is suddenly interrupted. A blocked artery leading
to or within the brain causes about 88% of strokes (ischemic). 9% of strokes
are caused when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the
spaces surrounding the brain cells (hemorrhagic). Bleeding between the
membranes covering the brain and the brain itself (subarachnoid hemorrhage)
causes 3% of strokes.1
Symptoms of a stroke may include some or all of
the following signs and symptoms:2
numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden
confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden
trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden
trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden
severe headache with no known cause
Other important, but less common stroke symptoms
include:3
nausea, vomiting, and/or fever, not caused by a viral illness
Sudden,
brief loss of consciousness or period of decreased consciousness (fainting,
confusion, or convulsion)
Sudden
loss of consciousness or coma
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) or
"mini-stroke" lasts only a few minutes. It occurs when the blood
supply to the brain is briefly interrupted. Symptoms of a TIA usually occur
suddenly, and are similar to a stroke but do not last as long with on permanent
damage. Most symptoms disappear in an hour, but can last for up to 24 hours.4
1American Heart Association/American
Stroke Association: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics - 2004 Update
2Heart attack, Stroke, and Cardiac
Arrest Warning Signs - www.americanheart.org
3Common Symptoms and Treatments for
stroke - www.stroke.org
4National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke - www.ninds.nih.gov
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