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Stroke

• More information on stroke

A stroke happens when part of your brain doesn't get the blood it needs. Most often, a stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel that goes to the brain. Sometimes a stroke is caused when a blood vessel in the brain breaks. If you have a stroke, some of your brain cells quickly begin to die.

With fast treatment, a person who has a stroke may suffer little or no brain damage. But severe brain damage can cause death or disability, including difficulty eating, being paralyzed, problems with thinking, trouble speaking, and emotional problems.

Stroke risk is higher for older people, people who have a family history of stroke, and for African-Americans. African-American men also have a higher risk of disability and death from stroke than white men. This is partly because more African-American men have high blood pressure, a major stroke risk factor.

Managing high blood pressure is the most important thing you can do to lower your risk of stroke.

These steps can also help prevent stroke:

• Don't smoke.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat foods that are good for your heart, and keep cholesterol levels in check.
• Make exercise a habit. Learn more about physical activity.
• If you have heart disease, follow your doctor's instructions for managing it.
• If you have diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions for eating, exercising, and taking insulin.
• Limit alcohol use, which can cause high blood pressure.
• Find healthy ways to manage stress.

Sleep apnea, which is a common condition that sometimes interrupts normal breathing during sleep, seems to put people at risk of stroke. If you think you may have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor.

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More information on stroke

Explore other publications and websites

• Age Page: Stroke — This fact sheet provides information on strokes and offers tips for stroke prevention. It also gives a list of warning signs for stroke.
  http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/stroke.htm
• Heart Attack Risk Assessment (Copyright © American Heart Association) — Find your personal risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease with this health risk awareness quiz. Included is a list of questions to ask your doctor.
  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/HeartAttackToolsResources/Heart-Attack-Risk-Assessment_UCM_303944_Article.jsp
• Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time. — This publication features information on what a stroke is, the signs and symptoms of stroke, and what can be done to prevent a stroke.
  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/knowstroke.htm
• NINDS Stroke Information Page — This online publication discusses the types of stroke, treatment options, and ongoing stroke research.
  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm
• Stroke — This site features frequently asked questions, statistics, and risk factors of stroke. It also lists several prevention programs for those who want to lower their risk.
  http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/
• Stroke: Warning Signs and Tips for Prevention (Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians) — This fact sheet provides information on stroke and its risk factors, how to know if you are having a stroke, and ways to lower your stroke risk.
  http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/basics/290.html

Connect with other organizations

• American Stroke Association
  http://www.strokeassociation.org
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, HHS
  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

Content last updated January 10, 2011.

Resources last updated January 10, 2011.

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