2007-05-21 05:50:55 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
A stroke or CVA (cerebrovascular accident) means that the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly cut off. The brain cells need a constant supply of oxygen from the blood. Soon after the blood supply is cut off, the cells in the affected area of brain become damaged, or die. A stroke is sometimes called a 'brain attack'.
The blood supply to the brain comes mainly from four arteries - the right and left carotid arteries, and the right and left vertebrobasilar arteries. These branch into many smaller arteries which supply blood to all areas of the brain. The area of brain affected, and the extent of the damage, depends on which blood vessel is affected.
For example, if you lose the blood supply from a main carotid artery, then a large area of your brain is affected which can cause severe symptoms, or death. On the other hand, if a small 'branch' artery is affected, then only a small area of brain is damaged which may cause relatively minor symptoms.
2007-05-22 06:09:59 · answer #1 · answered by daniella 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A blockage or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. So as to stop circulation to other parts of the brain.This is the same as what is commonly called a heart attack', but a stroke happens in the brain not the heart.
The work 'stroke' comes from a time when people thought that a person was literally struck down by God.
2007-05-21 05:58:32 · answer #2 · answered by robert2020 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stroke or brain attack occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced drastically. The brain cells are deprived of oxygen and other nutrients and start dying after some time. Depending on the duration and treatment of the stroke, some parts of the body stop functioning resulting in paralysis and death. Strokes are the one of largest cause of death and disability worldwide.
More details at http://ailments.in/stroke.html
2007-05-21 22:33:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.
Stroke can be caused either by a clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain
2007-05-24 13:16:29 · answer #4 · answered by Harmony 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's now called a brain attack because it usually involves a blood clot travelling from somewhere in the body to the brain where it cuts off bloodflow.
2007-05-21 06:00:42 · answer #5 · answered by Ricky T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
incapability of blood flow to reach to a part of brain caused aether by embolism or bleeding of ruptured brain vessels
2007-05-21 07:31:54 · answer #6 · answered by ghb 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lack of blood (which brings oxygen) to certain parts of our body, especially the brain, usually because of a heart malfunction or no function...
2007-05-21 08:26:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋