With Stroke, Every Minute Counts

Each year more than 795,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means a stroke occurs about every 40 seconds. Stroke is the nation's third largest killer, and is the leading cause of serious long-term disability that requires full time care.

Stroke, which is also referred to as a brain-attack, is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain becomes disrupted. Blood vessels carry blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and to the brain. In a stroke, a blood vessel to the brain may become blocked (ischemic stroke) or may rupture or burst (hemorrhagic stroke). An ischemic stroke, or one caused by the blockage of blood flow, is by far the most common type of stroke. When the brain is deprived of blood, it fails to work properly, and in some cases, the affected tissue of the brain dies. Depending on the severity of the stroke and the area of the brain affected, loss of function or death can occur. Similar to a heart attack, with a brain attack, time is of the essence and acting quickly can make a big difference for a patient.

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