The Facts:
What You Need to Know About Stroke

There are 5.7 million stroke survivors in the United States⁵. That number is expected to increase as baby boomers reach 60.

Stroke
A stroke is sometimes thought of as a “brain attack.” A stroke occurs when a blood vessel or vessels that carry oxygen and other nutrients to a specific area of the brain become blocked or suddenly burst. This interrupts blood flow to the brain and prevents oxygen from getting to where it's needed. When the oxygen supply is cut off, brain cells begin to die resulting in change or loss of abilities or functions controlled by those cells in the brain.⁶

There are two types of stroke – ischemic (iz-KEE-mik) and hemorrhagic (hem-uh-RAJ-ik).

• About 87% of all strokes are ischemic- are caused by too little blood supply due to a blood clot in an artery leading to the brain
• 13% are hemorrhagic- are caused by bleeding in the brain when a blood vessel bursts⁷

Transient Ischemic Attack
A transient ischemic (iz-KEE-mik) attack (TIA), also known as “mini stroke,” produces stroke-like symptoms that are temporary in nature, usually stop within 24 hours and generally do not cause permanent brain damage.⁸

• TIAs are ischemic in nature and caused by inadequate blood supply due to a blood clot in the brain
• Common stroke and TIA symptoms include:⁹
  • Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Stroke and TIA risk factors
Stroke and TIA risk factors are divided into two groups – modifiable (can be changed) and non-modifiable (cannot be changed).¹⁰

Modifiable risk factors include:

• high blood pressure
• heart disease,
• Type 2 diabetes,
• high cholesterol,
• atrial fibrillation,
• and factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, obesity and inactive lifestyle.

Non-modifiable risk factors include:

• age,
• gender,
• race,
• family/personal/stroke/TIA history,
• and Type 1 diabetes

More than one-third of people who suffer a TIA are expected to eventually suffer a stroke¹¹. Approximately 15% of all strokes are preceded by a TIA; 14% of those who survive their first stroke or TIA will experience another episode within one year¹².

• Strokes and TIAs are generally caused by:¹³
  • Reduced blood flow at a narrowing in a major artery to the brain, such as the carotid (kuh-ROT-id) artery
  • A blood clot in the heart, or part of the body other than the brain, which can break off, travel to the brain and block a blood vessel
  • A narrowing in one of the small blood vessels in the brain that temporarily blocks blood flow

An estimated 240,000 Americans are diagnosed with TIAs each year, and the annual number of undiagnosed TIAs likely exceeds this¹⁴.

To help control your risk for TIA and stroke¹⁵

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle; do not smoke, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and reduce stress
• See a physician to regularly monitor hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol levels, etc.