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Stroke

Overview

Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked or ruptured. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, and starts to die. Most people who have a stroke do not have complete loss of functions or memory.

Because the brain is responsible for controlling all body functions, a stroke will prevent necessary blood and oxygen from getting to certain areas in the brain. This will cause that part of the body to not work as it should. For example, if a stroke occurs toward the back of the brain where vision is controlled, it's likely that some disability involving vision will result.

Stats

Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. Research has shown that about 5,500,000 stroke survivors are alive today - 2,400,000 men and 3,000,000 women. Stroke kills over 150,000 people every year. It's the third largest cause of death, ranking behind heart disease and all forms of cancer.

Impact

Memory is often one of the more significantly impacted functions of a stroke. Oftentimes, people who have had a stroke can remember the past but not the present. The length of time recovering affects the degree of difficulty. In the early stages of recovery, some people find it particularly hard to concentrate. This is because weakness and fatigue caused by the stroke affect the ability to concentrate. Thinking quickly can be difficult, and the overloaded person will appear confused. The length of time a stroke survivor can pay attention without rest increases through time.