As stated earlier, a stroke is an episode of focal cerebral dysfunction of acute onset and rapid progression. The maximal neurological deficit is reached within minutes to several hours.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Each year over 500,000 persons suffer a stroke. The effects of stroke can be devastating. Check blood pressure and pulse bilaterally in patients with posterior circulatory impairment, to rule out subclavian steal syndrome. The steal is caused by stenosis of the subclavian artery proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery. Infarction is visualized 24-72 hours after the ictus as a low density area in a vascular territory.