Arrhythmia An irregular or unpredictable heart beat. Aspiration Pneumonia Pneumonia caused by inhaling foreign matter into the lungs. Most aspiration pneumonia in stroke survivors is caused by inhaling food or drink into the lungs, usually as the result of impaired swallowing ability. Atherosclerosis A hardening or build up of cholesterol plaque and other fatty deposits in the arteries. A heart disease in which the upper left chamber of the heart beats out of rhythm with the other three chambers.
Atrial fibrillation increases a person s stroke risk by six times.
AF is generally treatable with medication. A term that more accurately describes the effect and action of stroke on the brain. The stem-like part of the brain that connects the brain s right and left hemispheres with the spinal cord. Responsible for non-thinking activities such as breathing, blood pressure and coordination of eye movements. Brain Stem Stroke A stroke that strikes the brain stem, which controls involuntary life-support functions such as breathing, blood pressure and heart beat.