AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Stroke

John and Edith were playing cards one night 

when John asked Edith a question. She tried 

to answer but couldn’t speak. John knew 

something was very wrong. Could it be a 

stroke? Without waiting, he called 911. 

The ambulance took Edith to the hospital. 

Emergency doctors said it was a stroke — 

John was right. Because John called for help 

quickly, Edith got the medical care she needed 

without delay. She started getting well, her 

speech came back, and once again she’s 

having long talks with John.

Edith was lucky. A stroke can cause 

lasting physical and mental problems 

and even death in older people. 

Knowing the symptoms of 

a stroke and acting 

quickly could mean the 

difference between 

life and death. You 

can also take steps to 

lower your chance of 

even having a stroke.

What Is a Stroke?

A stroke happens when something 

changes how blood flows through 

the brain. Blood brings oxygen and 

nutrients to brain cells. If blood can’t 

flow to a part of the brain, cells there 

could soon start to die. If brain cells 

are only damaged, they sometimes 

get better. But brain cells that have 

died can’t be brought back to life. 

So, someone who has had a stroke 

may have trouble speaking, thinking, 

or walking.

There are two major types of strokes. 

The most common kind (ischemic) is 

caused by a blood clot or the narrowing 

of a blood vessel (artery) leading to the 

brain. This keeps blood from flowing 

into other parts of the brain and keeps 

needed oxygen and nutrients from 

reaching brain cells there. In the second 

major kind of stroke (hemorrhagic), a 

broken blood vessel causes bleeding in 

the brain. This break in the vessel also 

stops oxygen and nutrients from 

reaching brain cells.

Stroke Is an Emergency. 

Call 911.

Never ignore the symptoms of stroke. 

Call 911 if you have any stroke symptoms, 

even if they don’t last long.
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Stroke

John and Edith were playing cards one night 

when John asked Edith a question. She tried 

to answer but couldn’t speak. John knew 

something was very wrong. Could it be a 

stroke? Without waiting, he called 911. 

The ambulance took Edith to the hospital. 

Emergency doctors said it was a stroke — 

John was right. Because John called for help 

quickly, Edith got the medical care she needed 

without delay. She started getting well, her 

speech came back, and once again she’s 

having long talks with John.

Edith was lucky. A stroke can cause 

lasting physical and mental problems 

and even death in older people. 

Knowing the symptoms of 

a stroke and acting 

quickly could mean the 

difference between 

life and death. You 

can also take steps to 

lower your chance of 

even having a stroke.

What Is a Stroke?

A stroke happens when something 

changes how blood flows through 

the brain. Blood brings oxygen and 

nutrients to brain cells. If blood can’t 

flow to a part of the brain, cells there 

could soon start to die. If brain cells 

are only damaged, they sometimes 

get better. But brain cells that have 

died can’t be brought back to life. 

So, someone who has had a stroke 

may have trouble speaking, thinking, 

or walking.

There are two major types of strokes. 

The most common kind (ischemic) is 

caused by a blood clot or the narrowing 

of a blood vessel (artery) leading to the 

brain. This keeps blood from flowing 

into other parts of the brain and keeps 

needed oxygen and nutrients from 

reaching brain cells there. In the second 

major kind of stroke (hemorrhagic), a 

broken blood vessel causes bleeding in 

the brain. This break in the vessel also 

stops oxygen and nutrients from 

reaching brain cells.

Stroke Is an Emergency. 

Call 911.

Never ignore the symptoms of stroke. 

Call 911 if you have any stroke symptoms, 

even if they don’t last long.
5 6 

F Control your diabetes. Untreated 

diabetes can damage blood vessels 

and also leads to narrowed arteries 

and stroke. Follow your doctor’s 

suggestions for keeping diabetes 

under control. 

F Eat healthy foods. Eat foods that are 

low in cholesterol and saturated fats. 

Include a variety of fruits and 

vegetables every day.

F Exercise regularly. Try to make physical 

activity a part of your everyday life. 

Doing things like taking a brisk walk, 

riding a bicycle, swimming, and working 

around the yard lower your chance 

of stroke. You might check with your 

doctor before you begin if you are 

over 50 and aren’t used to energetic 

activity. The National Institute on 

Aging, listed in For More Information, 

has a free booklet on exercise.

For More Information

The National Library of Medicine of 

the National Institutes of Health has 

a website, www.medlineplus.gov, with 

information on many health subjects, 

including stroke. Click on Health Topics. 

Choose subjects like Stroke, Aphasia, and 

Transient Ischemic Attack by clicking on 

the first letter of the topic you want and 

scrolling down the list. 

as trouble speaking and using words. 

Occupational therapy can make it easier 

to do things like taking a bath or cooking. 

A family doctor can provide follow-up 

care. Some people make a full recovery 

soon after a stroke. Others take months 

or even years. But, sometimes the 

damage is so serious that therapy 

cannot really help.

Lower Your Risk of Stroke

Talk to your doctor about what you 

can do to lower your risk of stroke. 

Even if you’re in perfect health, follow 

these suggestions:

F Control your blood pressure. Have 

your blood pressure checked often. 

If it is high, follow your doctor’s 

advice to lower it. Treating high 

blood pressure lowers the risk of 

both stroke and heart disease.

F Stop smoking. Smoking increases 

your risk for stroke. It’s never too 

late to quit.

F Control your cholesterol. If you 

have high cholesterol, work with your 

doctor to lower it. Cholesterol, a type 

of fat in the blood, can build up on 

the walls of your arteries. In time, 

this can block blood flow and lead 

to a stroke. 
5 6 

F Control your diabetes. Untreated 

diabetes can damage blood vessels 

and also leads to narrowed arteries 

and stroke. Follow your doctor’s 

suggestions for keeping diabetes 

under control. 

F Eat healthy foods. Eat foods that are 

low in cholesterol and saturated fats. 

Include a variety of fruits and 

vegetables every day.

F Exercise regularly. Try to make physical 

activity a part of your everyday life. 

Doing things like taking a brisk walk, 

riding a bicycle, swimming, and working 

around the yard lower your chance 

of stroke. You might check with your 

doctor before you begin if you are 

over 50 and aren’t used to energetic 

activity. The National Institute on 

Aging, listed in For More Information, 

has a free booklet on exercise.

For More Information

The National Library of Medicine of 

the National Institutes of Health has 

a website, www.medlineplus.gov, with 

information on many health subjects, 

including stroke. Click on Health Topics. 

Choose subjects like Stroke, Aphasia, and 

Transient Ischemic Attack by clicking on 

the first letter of the topic you want and 

scrolling down the list. 

as trouble speaking and using words. 

Occupational therapy can make it easier 

to do things like taking a bath or cooking. 

A family doctor can provide follow-up 

care. Some people make a full recovery 

soon after a stroke. Others take months 

or even years. But, sometimes the 

damage is so serious that therapy 

cannot really help.

Lower Your Risk of Stroke

Talk to your doctor about what you 

can do to lower your risk of stroke. 

Even if you’re in perfect health, follow 

these suggestions:

F Control your blood pressure. Have 

your blood pressure checked often. 

If it is high, follow your doctor’s 

advice to lower it. Treating high 

blood pressure lowers the risk of 

both stroke and heart disease.

F Stop smoking. Smoking increases 

your risk for stroke. It’s never too 

late to quit.

F Control your cholesterol. If you 

have high cholesterol, work with your 

doctor to lower it. Cholesterol, a type 

of fat in the blood, can build up on 

the walls of your arteries. In time, 

this can block blood flow and lead 

to a stroke.