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Stroke health centre

Stroke overview

The Stroke Association estimates 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke every year. That’s one person every five minutes. Stroke is brain damage caused by a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. The signs of a stroke may include weakness, numbness, blurred vision, confusion, and slurred speech. Getting to a hospital quickly is vital for a good outcome with a stroke.

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Understanding stroke - the basics

What is a stroke?

When the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or blocked for any reason, the consequences are usually drastic. Control over movement, perception, speech, or other mental or bodily functions is impaired, and consciousness itself may be lost. Disruptions of blood circulation to the brain are known as stroke, a disorder that occurs in two basic forms both of which are potentially life-threatening.

Clots near the brain. About three-quarters of all strokes are due to blockage of the oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain. Called clot or ischaemic strokes, they are triggered by either a thrombus, which is a stationary clot that forms in a blood vessel, or an embolus, a clot that travels through the bloodstream and becomes lodged in a vessel.

Understanding stroke - the basics