This staggering statistic makes stroke the third leading cause of death in the United States. So it is important to understand what causes a stroke, your chance of suffering a stroke, and how to recognize if you or someone else is having a stroke. A stroke occurs when there is disruption of blood flow to the brain. When blood flow cannot reach the part of the brain that controls a specific function of the body, that part of the body won't work properly. This damage can be temporary or permanent depending on a person's health, treatment and the severity of the stroke.
More severe strokes can ultimately lead to death.
Unfortunately, some risk factors for stroke are uncontrollable, such as a family history of heart disease or stroke, being over age 55, having diabetes, being African-American, or having had a previous stroke. However, other risk factors are manageable by controlling your lifestyle. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, weight control, exercising, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption. By talking to your doctor about your concerns, you can begin lowering your controllable risk factors. Knowing the warning signs of a stroke is also critical to treatment.