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What is Stroke?Stroke is an injury to the brain, caused by an impairment of circulation. Because it is a sudden and serious event, stroke is sometimes referred to as a brain attack. The brain critically depends upon a continuous supply of glucose and oxygen rich blood. If this supply is interrupted, even for a few minutes, brain dysfunction and damage can result. Since brain cells control everything we do, the symptoms of stroke can be many things. The most common symptoms are:
Two primary mechanisms of circulatory impairment cause stroke: 1) an artery to the brain may block off, or 2) it may rupture. Most strokes occur when arteries are blocked by blood clots. Arteries rupture when weak spots on the blood vessel wall break open. Stroke is our nation's third leading cause of death, killing nearly 160,000 Americans every year. Over the course of a lifetime, four out of every five American families will be touched by stroke. Every year approximately 730,000 Americans have a new or recurrent stroke. Everyone has some stroke risk - even you. The good news is that most strokes can be prevented. The keys to stroke prevention are reducing risk factors and recognizing the stroke warning symptoms. Get information on stroke prevention.
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