Stroke
A
Stroke is caused by sudden disruption of blood flow to the
tissues of the brain. This may result from blockage by a blood clot of a
cerebral artery or rupture of a cerebral blood vessel. The
affected nerve
cells die, disabling the portion of the
body governed by those cells. Depending on the tissues involved, the victim's sight, speech, thought processes, and memory may be affected, and one side of the body may become paralyzed. In about 10% of cases, major
strokes are preceded by one or more brief strokelike episodes known as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). These mini-strokes cause no lasting damage but are important warning signs that a major stroke is likely. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the chief cause of long-term disability in the United States.
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