Stroke General Description A stroke is known medically as a cerebrovascular accident, or CVA for short. A stroke occurs when the supply of blood to the brain is suddenly interrupted. A broken blood vessel can also cause a stroke. When the flow of blood stops, oxygen no longer reaches a part of the brain. This can cause brain damage.
Most strokes begin suddenly, develop rapidly, and cause brain damage within minutes.
Signs and symptoms of stroke may include trouble feeling or moving on one side of the body, trouble speaking or swallowing, blurred, double, or lost vision, a headache, or becoming dizzy, confused, or unconscious. Symptoms may appear in the first few minutes after a stroke, or may take hours to appear. Care Plan Stroke is one of the most preventable of all life-threatening health problems. The two primary types of risk factors for stroke are those that are controllable and those that are not. Uncontrollable risk factors include age, gender, race, family history of stroke, and personal history of diabetes.