Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Don't wait to see if symptoms stop. Every minute counts. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability. If you're with someone you suspect is having a stroke, watch the person carefully while waiting for emergency assistance.
What is a stroke? A stroke is a medical emergency that happens when something prevents your brain from getting enough blood flow. A blocked blood vessel or bleeding in your brain can cause strokes.
WHO stroke fact sheet providing key facts and information on risk factors, symptoms, treatment and prevention, WHO response.
Ischemic stroke is caused by interruption of the blood supply to the brain, while hemorrhagic stroke results from the rupture of a blood vessel or an abnormal vascular structure. About 87% of stroke is ischemic, with the rest being hemorrhagic. Bleeding can develop inside areas of ischemia, a condition known as " hemorrhagic transformation."
Get a step-by-step explanation of stroke. Learn about the different types and effects on the brain, along with prevention tools.
If your stroke symptoms go away after a few minutes, you may have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also sometimes called a "mini-stroke." Although brief, a TIA is a sign of a serious condition that will not go away without medical help.
An intracerebral hemorrhagic (ICH) stroke is the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke. It happens when the tissues surrounding the brain fill with blood after an artery bursts.
Find stroke educational information and sharable resources about stroke warning signs, prevention, assessment, treatment, recovery, and current research.