Stroke Resource Center - All Articles
Health ConditionsNeurological DisordersStroke

Stroke - All Articles

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A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to die. Symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness, difficulty speaking, vision problems, and a severe headache. Immediate medical attention is crucial to minimize brain damage and improve recovery. Treatment options include clot-busting medications, surgical procedures, and rehabilitation therapies. Lifestyle changes, such as managing high blood pressure and cholesterol, play a vital role in stroke prevention.

FAQ

What are the warning signs of a stroke?

Sudden numbness, weakness, confusion, trouble speaking, and a severe headache are classic warning signs of a stroke.

Diagnosing a stroke involves imaging tests (such as computed tomography scans or magnetic resonance imaging) and neurological exams.
Treatment for an ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood clot in an artery blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to a portion of the brain, includes clot-busting drugs (tPA) or mechanical thrombectomy, an endovascular procedure used to remove a blood clot.
Treatment for a hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts or bleeds, includes medications to control bleeding and surgical clipping to stop the vessel from bleeding.
Long-term effects of a stroke can include weakness, paralysis on one side of the body, speech difficulties, and cognitive impairments.
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Chung Yoon, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Chung Yoon, MD, is a noninvasive cardiologist with a passion for diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and treatment of a wide range of heart and cardiovascular disorders. He enjoys...
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Anurag Sahu, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Anurag Sahu, MD, is the director of the adult congenital heart program at Inova Health System in Fairfax, Virginia. Previously, he was an associate professor of medicine as well as...

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Justin Laube

Justin Laube, MD

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Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, a...

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David Weisman, MD

Medical Reviewer

David Weisman, MD, is the director of the Clinical Trial Center at Abington Neurological Associates in Pennsylvania, where he has conducted numerous clinical trials into mild cogni...

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Huma Sheikh, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Huma U. Sheikh, MD, is an assistant professor at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and was previously a clinical instructor of neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital–Harvard Medical Schoo...

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Michael Cutler, DO, PhD

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Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Michael Cutler, DO, PhD, is a cardiac electrophysiologist at Intermountain Heart Rhythm Specialists in Salt Lake City, Utah. His research interests include understanding the cellul...

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Michael R. Yochelson, MD, MBA

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Michael R. Yochelson, MD, MBA, is the chief medical officer at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, where he was instrumental in starting its first fellowship in brain injury medicine. ...

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Resources
  1. Stroke. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

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