What is stroke, what are its symptoms, and how prevalent is it in the United States?
According to the National Stroke Association, a stroke is a “brain attack” that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, which interrupts blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these happens, brain cells begin to die, causing brain damage. As brain cells die, the area of the brain that controls certain abilities throughout the body is also lost. These abilities include speech, movement and memory. More than two-thirds of stroke survivors experience some type of disability. Stroke ranks as the third leading cause of death, and the number one cause of disability among adults in the United States.
