A stroke occurs every 45 seconds in the United States. But what is a stroke? A stroke is a condition where oxygen cannot reach parts of the brain because of a blocked or burst blood vessel.

An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked, impeding blood flow. Ischemic strokes account for about 85% of all strokes.

A hemorrhagic stroke is when a blood vessel bursts and floods the brain with blood. Because the blood has nowhere to go, it compresses brain tissue. Hemorrhagic strokes comprise about 15% of strokes.

Lastly, a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke, is a short-term blockage of a blood vessel in the brain, lasting one to five minutes. Because of its short duration, a TIA does not generally have any lasting effects. However, the risk of having a more serious stroke greatly increases in the first 48 hours after having a TIA.

When parts of the brain are damaged, many short and long term effects can occur. These effects vary depending on the size and extent of the damage to the brain, and what side of the brain has been damaged. Some of these are:

• Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
• Problems understanding language (aphasia)
• Problems with speech
• Problems swallowing
• Memory loss
• Vision problems
• Changes in behavior

15% of strokes result in death.