Extracted from Stroke: Provincial Community Resource Guide
Courtesy of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario (Used with permission)

What is a stroke?
The term "stroke" defines a sudden injury to the brain caused by heart or blood vessel malfunction. Some are caused by hemorrhage (bleeding into the brain) but most are due to the interruption of the blood supply to the brain.

When the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, brain cells are deprived of oxygen. If flow is not restored within minutes, brain cells are injured and many will die. Brain cells or neurons cannot be replaced, repaired or restored.

Does stroke affect many Canadians?
Stroke is the leading cause of adult neurological disability and a leading cause of death in Canada. There are between 40,000 and 50,000 strokes in Canada each year For every four Canadians who have stroke: one dies; one makes a full recovery; one recovers but not completely; and one remains disabled

Everyone who has had a stroke has a higher-than-average risk of having another.

What causes a stroke?
Stroke can be caused in several ways. The most common causes are blood clots (70%) and rupture of a blood vessel in the brain (25%). Strokes caused by blood clots are referred to as thromboembolic. When a blood clot lodges in one of the arteries or veins feeding the brain, it causes an interruption of the blood flow.

Strokes caused by rupture of a blood vessel are referred to as hemorrhagic. Subarachnoid hemorrhage refers to bleeding beneath the membrane covering the brain's surface, and is usually caused by a bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Intracerebral hemorrhage happens when the small vessels at the base of the brain leak or burst.

Can you prevent stroke?
Some risk factors for stroke, such as age, gender and family history, are beyond your control. Many others can be modified through medical treatment or lifestyle changes.

Risk factors you can't change

• Age: Your chances of having a stroke go up as you get older.
• Gender: Males have a slightly higher risk than females.
• Race: Black and Oriental Canadians have a higher stroke rate than their Caucasian peers.
• Family History: Your risk of stroke is higher if members of your family have had stroke or transient ischemic attacks (waming strokes) hefore the age of 65.
• Heart Disease: Your risk is greater if you suffer from heart disease.

Risk factors you can modify

• High blood pressure
• Previous transient ischemic attacks: called "warning strokes", transient ischemic attacks are brief episodes of stroke symptoms which disappear in 24 hours or less without causing permanent damage. TlA's are extremely important warning signs of stroke and should not be ignored. If you experience any of these — go to hospital immediately.
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Excess weight

What are the signs and symptoms of stroke?
The main warning signs of stroke are:

• Sudden weakness, numbness and/or tingling of the face, arm or leg;
• Temporary difficulty, or loss of speech or trouble understanding speech;
• Sudden loss of vision, particularly in one eye, or double vision;
• Sudden, severe, unusual headaches or change in the pattern of headaches.
• Dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, especially with any of the above signs. These symptoms, also known as transient ischemic attacks or TlA's, usually strike without warning, lasting only minutes or for days or weeks.

A brain attack is as much a medical emergency as a heart attack.

What should you do if you or someone you know is having symptoms?
Stroke is a medical emergency. If you or someone you know experiences any of the symptoms listed above, call 911 or your emergency medical services number immediately. Quick action improves the chances of surviving and making a full recovery.

How is stroke treated?
Although there is no recognized cure for stroke right now, new treatments and research are under way. You may be asked to help the research by being in a "trial" on new treatment. In the hospital, careful attention is paid to blood pressure, temperature, blood flow to the brain and blood sugar, to prevent or reduce complications of stroke. Medical treatment, stroke education and follow-up care are also essential to reduce the risk of another stroke.

What are the effects of stroke and how can they be treated?
Stroke affects different people in different ways, depending on the type of stroke and the area of the brain affected. The way/attitude people cope with difficulty is also key.

Stroke can affect the senses, motor ability, language, behavioral pattern, thought pattern and memory. Paralysis on one side of the body, emotional swings and depression are common. Other effects may include incontinence and an inability to learn new tasks.

Rehabilitation should begin as soon after a stroke as possible and includes physical, occupational and speech therapy. The family is the most important source of support and stimulation during rehabilitation.

Although the most rapid recovery occurs during the first three months, recovery may continue over many months or years.

What is the role of the Heart and Stroke Foundation?
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario has created a special Stroke Fund to fund research and public education about stroke and stroke prevention.