Stroke Condition & Symptoms

Stroke is a disorder of the cardiovascular system caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain. According to the American Heart Association, 6.5 million Americans suffered a stroke in 2006. On average, every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. experiences a stroke.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

• Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when there is bleeding in the brain.

Ischemic Stroke

• Ischemic stroke is a more common type of stroke. It is caused either by a clot in a blood vessel that transports blood to the brain or a clot that moves from another part of the body to the brain.

Risk Factors

• Untreated hypertension is the leading cause of stroke in the United States.

Hypertension Symptoms

• Symptoms of hypertension include rapid pulse, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches and sweating.

Statistics

• Stroke accounted for one of every 17 deaths in 2005, according to the 2009 American Heart Association report "Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics."