The American Stroke Association, you would be pleased to know, is running an awareness campaign, the power to end stroke,  to educate Americans about the significance and symptoms of the stroke, and also to celebrate the lifestyle and culture of America.

A stroke occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is interrupted. When this happens, the brain cells in that area start dying because they are not getting the oxygen and the nutrients that they require in order to function. A stroke is of two major kinds – ischemic stroke (caused by a blood clot that blocks/plugs a blood vessel or artery in the brain) and hemorrhagic stroke (caused a blood vessel in the brain which breaks, and then bleeds).

It is very important for you to be aware that even though the stroke technically occurs in the brain, it affects the rest of the body. The effects may range from mild to severe – and include emotional problems, memory loss, problems with speech, paralysis, etc. Many patients have also been known to experience numbness post-stroke.

It is very important for you to be able to recognize the symptoms of a stroke, so that you can act quickly. Symptoms include sudden severe headache (apparently without cause), sudden confusion with speaking or understanding others’ speech, sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg (especially down one side), sudden vision impairment (either in one eye or both eyes), and sudden loss of balance while walking. If the symptoms are recognized, one can go to the hospital straightaway and seek immediate medical attention, thereby lessening the chances of permanent disability. With a stroke, every minute counts – you need to realize that the longer the blood flow is cut off, the greater the extent of damage. That is why immediate treatment can assist in successful recovery.