A stroke is similar to a heart attack. It occurs when a blood vessel bringing oxygen to the brain ruptures or is clogged by a blood clot or other particle. Nerve cells in the affected area of the brain die in minutes. The part of the body they control can't function, which can lead to disability or death. The dead cells aren't replaced, so the effects of stroke are permanent in many cases.
New treatment can help some stroke victims if used within three hours.
Many stroke survivors become depressed because tasks that used to be easy are now difficult. Stroke often causes people to lose feeling in an arm or leg or have diminished sight in one eye. They may forget or ignore their affected side, have trouble reading, dress only one side of their body or bump into furniture on their affected side. Usually stroke doesn't cause hearing loss, but survivors may not completely understand speech. They may have trouble saying what they're thinking, which is known as aphasia.