Quick Answers
What is a brain attack?
A brain attack (stroke) damages the brain just as a
heart attack damages the heart. Both are medical
emergencies. Symptoms include sudden onset of:
- numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body;
- confusion or trouble speaking/understanding;
- trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
- trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; or
- severe headache with no known cause.
A stroke occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is
blocked. A stroke can be caused by a clot in a blood
vessel or artery (ischemic stroke) or by a ruptured or
burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Strokes
occurring from clogged vessels are more common and
account for 83 percent of all strokes. Fast treatment
can save a life.
Gail Carlson, MPH Ph.D., Continuing Medical Education, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia
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Last update: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
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