A stroke happens when an artery in your brain becomes blocked or ruptures.
Arteries can rupture when weak spots on the blood vessel break.
Every year, stroke strikes nearly 550,000 Americans, killing 150,000 and forever changing the lives of the 400,000 who survive. Everyone has some stroke risk. The good news is that more than half of all strokes can be prevented by reducing risks, and if you do have a stroke, the brain damage may be minimized if you recognize the symptoms, respond promptly and receive appropriate treatment. Medical risk factors are those that you have limited ability to change and Lifestyle risk factors are those in which the risk can be decreased by changes in your lifestyle. Previous episode of stroke symptoms - This is also known as TIA or Transient Ischemic Attack.