What is a Stroke?
A stroke or brain attack is when an artery in the brain becomes blocked or bursts, blood and oxygen can no longer reach parts of the brain. Brain cells, deprived of oxygen, begin to die within minutes, and parts of the body begin to shut down.
There are two major types of stroke:
Ischemic Stroke - Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot.
Hemorrhagic Stroke - When a blood vessel in part of the brain becomes weak and bursts open, causing blood to leak into the brain. Read more about stroke using our health encyclopedia or watch a video about stroke.
There are advanced treatments for stroke at St. Anthony Hospital's Primary Stroke Center. It is vital to call 911 and get treatment as soone as possible when you or someone you are with is showing signs of a stroke. Every Minute Counts!
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Stroke is a medical emergency - every minute counts so know the signs and act F.A.S.T! Call 911 immediately if you or someone you are with have symptoms of stroke!
- Face - Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
- Arms - Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Is one arm weak or numb?
- Speech - Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is speech slurred? Is the sentence repeated correctly?
- Time - If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately!
