About the Hennepin

Stroke Center

Info for Health

Professionals

Info for Patients

What is a Stroke?

A stroke, sometimes called a “brain attack,” is when blood is prevented from flowing through
the brain. This can happen two ways:

1. A blood clot. A clot can block blood from flowing through blood vessels in the brain.
   This is the most common type of stroke and is called an ischemic stroke.
2. A hemorrhage. When a blood vessel breaks, blood drains into other areas of the
   brain and does not get to the places it needs to go. This type of stroke is called a hemorrhagic stroke. About 15% of strokes are hemorrhagic strokes.

A stroke is a very serious problem because the brain is the command center for the body. In both types of strokes, the brain cells don’t receive the blood they need to survive. Every minute of a stroke, two million brain cells die. Because of this, stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the U.S.

Most people who have a stroke will survive but it’s possible they will become disabled by their stroke. When brain cells die, the abilities controlled in that part of the brain can be lost. For example, the areas in the brain that control speech, memory, and movement can be affected. 
This is why stroke is the number-one cause of adult disability in the U.S.

Recognizing and acting fast after a stroke can save a life and may prevent disabilities from becoming permanent. Most people have two or more symptoms of a stroke, but people can have just one symptom. The most common signs of a stroke are:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg (mainly on one side of the body)
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance
• Sudden confusion or trouble talking or understanding speech
• Sudden bad headache with no known cause

If you or your loved ones have any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

Ischemic strokes, strokes that are caused by blood clots, sometimes can be treated with drugs that dissolve clots, such as the drug TPA (tissue plasminogen activator.) TPA must be given within three hours of when the stroke started, and tests must be done before TPA can be given to ensure the patient is a good candidate for TPA. That’s why it is so important for you or your loved ones to call 911 and get to a hospital as fast as possible after you notice symptoms.

There are other medicines, as well as surgical procedures, which may be effective treatments for your stroke. Your doctor will recommend the best option for your type of stroke.

Information adapted from American Stroke Association and National Stroke Association.