What Are the Signs of a Stroke?

The signs of a stroke may include weakness, numbness, blurred vision, confusion, and slurred speech. Getting to a hospital quickly is vital for a good outcome with a stroke.

Stroke is brain damage caused by a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. Because stroke injures the brain, you may not realize that you are having a stroke.

In situations in which blood clots form within the heart, the potential exists for small clots to break off and travels to the arteries in the brain and cause a stroke. Ischemic strokes may also be caused by blood clots that form in the heart. Increasing age certain medications make blood clots more likely, and therefore your chances for a stroke.

Ischemic strokes may result from clogged arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. This may affect the arteries within the brain or the arteries in the neck that carry blood to the brain. Ischemic strokes may also be caused by blood clots that form in the heart.

Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain "Mini-strokes" or transient ischemic attacks.

Magnetic resonance angiography MRA or CT angiography may be done to check for abnormal blood vessels in the brain that may have caused the stroke. Electrocardiogram ECG and heart rhythm monitoring can help determine if an irregular heart beat such as atrial fibrillation caused the stroke

Treatment depends on the severity and cause of the stroke.