Approximately 730,000 strokes occur each year, and 27 percent of these result in death. The remaining 73 percent contribute to the nearly four million stroke survivors alive in the U.S. today. The National Stroke Association refers to these cerebrovascular accidents as brain attacks. The brain uses 25 percent of the oxygen a person breathes in to function, and when the blood supply is interrupted, oxygen is not delivered to the brain, causing the cells controlling various bodily functions to die. The longer a stroke continues without treatment, the greater the number of brain cells ultimately die, so identifying early warning signs of stroke and seeking treatment quickly is imperative.
Cell damage occurs whenever there is a lack of blood flow to the brain.
Interruptions of blood flow to the brain are most commonly caused when one of the arteries carrying blood to the brain becomes clogged or blocked, resulting in an ischemic stroke. Hemorrhagic strokes are less common, afflicting only about 15 percent of stroke victims. With a hemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel ruptures, causing a hemorrhage in the brain. Treatment for hemorrhagic stroke involves draining the brain and treating blood pressure, according to Hastings. This type of stoke is more common in people with aneurysms and hypertension.