What is a stroke?

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. More than 795,000 people have a stroke each year in the U.S. Every 3 minutes 14 seconds, someone dies of stroke. A stroke happens when something goes wrong with the blood flow in the brain. This can be because a blood vessel gets blocked or bursts, which can harm the brain.

Ischemic Stroke

An ischemic stroke happens when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain. This damages the brain because it does not get enough blood and oxygen.

• 87 percent of all strokes are ischemic.
• Learn more about Ischemic Stroke

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds. This harms the brain because too much blood leaks into the brain.

• 13 percent of all strokes are hemorrhagic.
• Two types of weakened blood vessels that usually cause hemorrhagic stroke: aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
• The most common cause of hemorrhagic stroke is uncontrolled high blood pressure.
• Learn more about Hemorrhagic Stroke

Transient Ischemic Attack

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) happens when there is a temporary blockage in the blood flow to the brain.

• It can cause symptoms similar to a stroke, such as weakness or numbness in one side of the body, trouble speaking, or loss of vision. For TIAs, these symptoms usually last minutes or hours.
• It’s important to seek medical help if someone has a TIA. It could be a warning sign of a more serious stroke in the future.
• Learn more about TIA