Stroke | CVA | Cerebrovascular Accident | MedlinePlus

Stroke | CVA | Cerebrovascular Accident | MedlinePlus
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Health Topics
Stroke
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/stroke.html
Stroke
Also called: Brain attack, CVA
On this page
Basics
Summary
Start Here
Symptoms
Diagnosis and Tests
Prevention and Risk Factors
Treatments and Therapies
Living With
Related Issues
Specifics
Genetics
See, Play and Learn
Images
Videos and Tutorials
Research
Statistics and Research
Clinical Trials
Journal Articles
Resources
Reference Desk
Find an Expert
For You
Children
Women
Older Adults
Patient Handouts
Summary
What is a stroke?
A stroke happens when there is a loss of blood flow to part of the brain. Your brain cells cannot get the oxygen and nutrients they need from blood, and they start to die within a few minutes. This can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
If you think that you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 right away. Immediate treatment may save someone's life and increase the chances for successful rehabilitation and recovery.
What are the types of stroke?
There are two types of stroke:
Ischemic stroke
is caused by a
blood clot
that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. This is the most common type; about 80% of strokes are ischemic.
Hemorrhagic stroke
is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain.
Another condition that's similar to a stroke is a
transient ischemic attack
(TIA). It's sometimes called a "mini-stroke." TIAs happen when the blood supply to the brain is blocked for a short time. The damage to the brain cells isn't permanent, but having a TIA puts you at much higher risk of having a stroke.
Who is at risk for a stroke?
Certain factors can raise your risk of a stroke. The major risk factors include:
High blood pressure
This is the primary risk factor for a stroke.
Diabetes
Heart diseases
Atrial fibrillation
and other heart diseases can cause blood clots that lead to stroke.
Smoking
When you smoke, you damage your blood vessels and raise your blood pressure.
A personal or family history of stroke or TIA
Age.
Your risk of stroke increases as you get older.
Race and ethnicity.
People who are African Americans or Hispanic have a higher risk of stroke.
There are also other factors that are linked to a higher risk of stroke, such as:
Alcohol and illegal drug use
Not getting enough physical activity
High
cholesterol
Unhealthy diet
Having
obesity
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
The symptoms of a stroke often happen quickly. They include:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden severe headache with no known cause
The F.A.S.T. test can help you remember what to look for if you think someone is having a stroke. Think "FAST" and look for:
ace drooping on one side when smiling.
rm weakness occurs when the arms are raised, and one arm drifts downward.
peech is slurred or strange.
ime to call 911.
If you think that you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 right away. Every minute counts during a stroke.
How are strokes diagnosed?
To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will
Ask about your symptoms and medical history
Do a physical exam, including a check of
Your mental alertness
Your coordination and balance
Any numbness or weakness in your face, arms, and legs
Any trouble speaking and seeing clearly
Run some tests, which may include
Diagnostic imaging
of the brain, such as a
CT scan
or
MRI
Heart tests
, which can help detect heart problems or blood clots that may have led to a stroke. Possible tests include an
electrocardiogram
(EKG) and an echocardiography.
What are the treatments for stroke?
Treatments for stroke include medicines, surgery, and rehabilitation. Which treatments you get depend on the type of stroke and the stage of treatment. The different stages are:
Acute treatment
, to try to stop a stroke while it is happening
Post-stroke rehabilitation
, to overcome the disabilities caused by the stroke
Prevention
, to prevent a first stroke or, if you have already had one, prevent another stroke
Acute treatments for ischemic stroke are usually medicines:
You may get tPA, (tissue plasminogen activator), a medicine to dissolve the blood clot. You can only get this medicine within 4 hours of when your symptoms started. The sooner you can get it, the better your chance of recovery.
If you cannot get that medicine, you may get medicine that helps stop platelets from clumping together to form blood clots. Or you may get a
blood thinner
to keep existing clots from getting bigger.
If you have carotid artery disease, you may also need a procedure to open your blocked carotid artery.
Acute treatments for hemorrhagic stroke focus on stopping the bleeding. The first step is to find the cause of bleeding in the brain. The next step is to control it:
If high blood pressure is the cause of bleeding, you may be given
blood pressure medicines
If an
aneurysm
is the cause, you may need aneurysm clipping or coil embolization. These are surgeries to prevent further leaking of blood from the aneurysm. It also can help prevent the aneurysm from bursting again.
If an
arteriovenous malformation
(AVM) is the cause of a stroke, you may need an AVM repair. An AVM is a tangle of faulty arteries and veins that can rupture within the brain. An AVM repair may be done through
Surgery
Injecting a substance into the blood vessels of the AVM to block blood flow
Radiation to shrink the blood vessels of the AVM
Stroke rehabilitation
can help you relearn skills you lost because of the damage. The goal is to help you become as independent as possible and to have the best possible quality of life.
Prevention of another stroke is also important, since having a stroke increases the risk of getting another one. Prevention may include heart-healthy lifestyle changes and medicines.
Can strokes be prevented?
If you have already had a stroke or are at risk of having a stroke, you can make some
heart-healthy lifestyle changes
to try to prevent a future stroke:
Eating a heart-healthy diet
Aiming for a healthy weight
Managing
stress
Getting regular
physical activity
Quitting smoking
Managing your
blood pressure
and
cholesterol levels
If these changes aren't enough, you may need medicine to control your risk factors.
NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Start Here
Stroke
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Stroke Overview
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Types of Stroke and Treatment
(American Stroke Association)
Also in
Spanish
What Is a Stroke?
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Also in
Spanish
Symptoms
Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Symptoms
(American Heart Association)
Stroke Signs and Symptoms
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Stroke Symptoms and Warning Signs
(American Stroke Association)
Also in
Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
Carotid Ultrasound Imaging
(American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America)
Also in
Spanish
Catheter Angiography
(American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America)
Also in
Spanish
Cranial Ultrasound
(American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America)
Also in
Spanish
CT Perfusion Imaging of the Head
(American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America)
Also in
Spanish
Functional MRI (fMRI)
(American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America)
Also in
Spanish
How Is Stroke Diagnosed?
(Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
Lipoprotein (a) Blood Test
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in
Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Halting Heart Attack and Stroke
(National Institutes of Health)
Also in
Spanish
Let's Talk about Carotid Endarterectomy
(American Stroke Association)
Let's Talk about Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Stroke
(American Stroke Association)
Also in
Spanish
Mind Your Risks
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Preventing Stroke
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Also in
Spanish
Safe Use of Aspirin
(Food and Drug Administration)
What New Guidelines Say to Do to Prevent a Stroke
(American Heart Association)
Treatments and Therapies
Stroke: First Aid
(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Also in
Spanish
Treatment and Intervention for Stroke
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Also in
Spanish
What Are Some Common Outcomes of Stroke and Some Common Treatments for These Outcomes?
(Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
Also in
Spanish
Living With
15 Things Caregivers Should Know After a Loved One Has Had a Stroke
(American Stroke Association)
Life after Stroke
(American Stroke Association)
Also in
Spanish
Stroke Recovery Timeline
(Johns Hopkins Medicine)
Related Issues
Atherosclerosis and Stroke
(American Stroke Association)
Also in
Spanish
Controlling Post-Stroke Seizures
(American Stroke Association)
Also in
Spanish
Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Also in
Spanish
High Blood Pressure, Atrial Fibrillation, and Your Risk of Stroke
(American Heart Association)
Specifics
Hemorrhagic Stroke: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in
Spanish
Ischemic Stroke: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in
Spanish
Lateral Medullary Syndrome
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Spinal Cord Infarction
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Genetics
Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy: MedlinePlus Genetics
(National Library of Medicine)
Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes: MedlinePlus Genetics
(National Library of Medicine)
Images
Craniotomy - series
(Medical Encyclopedia)
Also in
Spanish
Videos and Tutorials
Survived a Stroke? How to Heal in the First 90 Days
(American Heart Association)
Statistics and Research
About the Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
FastStats: Cerebrovascular Disease or Stroke
(National Center for Health Statistics)
Heart and Stroke Statistics
(American Heart Association)
Nearly Everyone Has at Least One Risk Factor Before a Heart Attack, Heart Failure, or Stroke
(Harvard Medical School)
Stroke Facts
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
What the Latest Heart Disease and Stroke Numbers Mean for Your Health
(American Heart Association)
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov: Carotid Stenosis
(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Endarterectomy, Carotid
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Article: Effect of a Comprehensive Mobile-Based Respiratory Training Program on Respiratory Function...
Article: MRI measurement of the delayed secondary ischaemic injury following endovascular thrombectomy:...
Article: ESTREL-Fatigue-association of levodopa with post-stroke fatigue.
Stroke -- see more articles
Reference Desk
Agnosia
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Stroke Connection e-news
(American Stroke Association)
Also in
Spanish
Find an Expert
American Heart Association
American Stroke Association
Find a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician
(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Children
Pediatric Stroke
(Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association)
Women
Stroke
(Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
Also in
Spanish
Women and Stroke
(American Stroke Association)
Also in
Spanish
Older Adults
Stroke
(AGS Health in Aging Foundation)
Patient Handouts
EEG
(Medical Encyclopedia)
Also in
Spanish
Preventing stroke
(Medical Encyclopedia)
Also in
Spanish
Stroke
(Medical Encyclopedia)
Also in
Spanish
Stroke - discharge
(Medical Encyclopedia)
Also in
Spanish
Topic Image
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
BAER - brainstem auditory evoked response
Brain herniation
Brain surgery
Brain surgery - discharge
Craniotomy - series
EEG
Head MRI
Lactate dehydrogenase test
LDH isoenzyme blood test
Lipoprotein-a
Magnetic resonance angiography
Preventing stroke
Stroke
Stroke - discharge
Swallowing problems
Transcranial Doppler ultrasound
Vertebrobasilar circulatory disorders
Related Health Topics
Aphasia
Atherosclerosis
Hemorrhagic Stroke
Ischemic Stroke
Stroke Rehabilitation
Transient Ischemic Attack
National Institutes of Health
The primary NIH organization for research on
Stroke
is the
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Other Languages
Find
health information in languages other than English
on
Stroke
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