What is a stroke?

Caleb came home from school today and asked me how Aunt Lisa is and "WHAT IS A STROKE"? I couldn't really explain it to him so I said, "Let's GOOGLE it". Here was what we found out.

What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts . Without blood and the oxygen it carries, part of the brain starts to die. The part of the body controlled by the damaged area of the brain can’t work properly. Brain damage can begin within minutes, so
it is important to know the symptoms of stroke and act fast. Quick treatment can help limit damage to the brain and increase the chance of a full recovery. What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of a stroke happen quickly. A stroke may cause sudden:
• Numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the
body.
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes. You may have double vision, or things may look dim or
blurry.
• Confusion or trouble understanding.
• Slurred or garbled speech.
• Trouble walking. You may feel unsteady, dizzy, or clumsy.
• Severe headache.

What causes a stroke?
There are two types of stroke:
• An ischemic stroke develops when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain. The clot may form in the blood vessel or travel from somewhere else in the blood system. About 8 out of 10 strokes are ischemic (say “iss-KEE-mick”) strokes. They are the most common type of stroke in older adults.
• A hemorrhagic stroke develops when an artery in the brain leaks or bursts. This causes bleeding inside the brain or near the surface of the brain. Hemorrhagic (say “heh-muh-RAHjick”)
strokes are less common but more deadly than ischemic strokes.

Caleb seemed to be satisfied with the semi-technical information google provided. An MRI will be done today to see what kind of stroke Lisa had. They are thinking a hemorrhagic stroke. But don't quote me on that just yet!