About Stroke
Stroke
A stroke, or “brain attack,” is caused by interruption of the blood supply to the brain due to a clot (ischemic stroke) or leakage of a blood vessel into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).
Prevention
Do not smoke, eat a healthful diet, exercise regularly, take medications as directed, lose weight if you are overweight or obese, drink alcohol only in moderation, take prescribed medications to control high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, and manage blood sugar if you have diabetes.
Risk Factors
Risk factors are traits and lifestyle habits that increase the individual person’s tendency develop the disease. Extensive clinical and statistical analyses have identified factors that increase the tendency to have a stroke. Some of these factors may be modified, treated or controlled while other factors cannot.
The warning signs of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Diagnosis
Prompt diagnoses are key to ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke recovery. Strokes are diagnosed through physical exams, neurological exams, blood and urine tests, and imaging scans.
Facts About Stroke and the NYU Stroke Center
Statistics, treatment, and how the NYU Stroke Center works.
