Also like a heart attack, stroke is a medical emergency. Do not wait or hesitate to call for emergency medical help.
Fast treatment makes a big difference in outcome for someone having a stroke.
When the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off or greatly decreased, a stroke occurs. If the blood supply is cut off for several hours or more, the brain cells, without enough blood supply, will die. Depending upon the amount of blood involved and location of the stroke area in the brain, a person having a stroke can show many signs and symptoms. These can range from barely noticeable difficulties moving or speaking to paralysis or death. Until recently, doctors were unable to do much while a person was having a stroke or immediately afterward.