Stroke Research & Therapy

A Stroke or Brain Attack or Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) is a medical emergency occurs when blood flow to brain stops or interrupted or severely reduced and brain cells are deprived of oxygen and nutrients and begin to die.The lack of blood causes part of the brain to die, a process known as cerebral infarction.  There are two kinds of stroke, Ischemic Stroke (caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain) and Hemorrhagic Stroke (caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain). Mini Strokes or Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs), occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted. Stroke occurs in all age groups, in both sexes, and in all races. Risk of stroke and second stroke is influenced by a number of factors. Risk factors for Stroke that cannot be controlled or changed are Age, Heredity, Race, Sex. Medical stroke risk factors that can be controlled and treatable are: TIA, Atrial Fibrillation, Diabetes, Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD), Diabetes mellitus, Sickle cell disease. Lifestyle stroke risk factors include: High blood pressure, High blood cholesterol, Cigarette smoking, Obesity, alcoholism, Poor diet and lack of exercise.