Find out what a stroke is

Do you know someone that has had a stroke but you are not sure of what that actually is? This article will help you to understand the terms that are used when referring to a stroke.
A stroke is a cardiovascular disease caused when the blood supply stops flowing to your brain from your heart.
Your body is made up of blood vessels which carry oxygen and nutrients through your body. A Stroke usually occurs when a blood vessel carrying this valuable cargo to the brain bursts or clogs up stopping the movement of the blood and nutrients. This means that part of the brain will not receive the cargo of blood and oxygen that it needs to function normally.
When part of the brain does not receive enough oxygen the nerve cells that affect the function of the brain stop working. This means that the part of the brain that controls the functions of our bodies cannot work or cannot function as effectively as they did before the stroke took place. Unfortunately, in some circumstances, where a severe stroke has taken place the body may never be able to heal itself and fully function again although part functioning may return.
As you can imagine suffering from a stroke can be frightening in its effect and consequences not only for the person suffering from this disease but also for their loved ones.
There are two categories of strokes which I will briefly explain below:
Ischemic stroke - Ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage of the blood vessels. This is the most well known form of stroke experienced by sufferers. Usually a stroke of this type is the result of a blood clot forming in one of the arteries that transmit blood to the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke - This is a serious form of stroke which is caused by bleeding in the cavity between the skull and the brain. This type of stroke may lead to death.
You have probably also heard of a cerebral hemorrhage. It seems that a cerebral hemorrhage is often a popular disease in television shows and books. A cerebral hemorrhage occurs when an artery in the brain breaks and this fills the surrounding tissue with blood which like a hemorrhagic stroke can result in death.
Bear in mind that if a blood vessel in the brain bursts, pressure from the blood will compress part of the brain. For a survivor the pressure will eventually decrease. The brain may then be able to resume some of its pre-stroke functions again.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of a heart condition, or you have a family history of heart complaints, you should consult your doctor on a regular basis. If medical treatment is sought early the sufferer has a far greater chance of recovery and maintaining their health.

Leanne has a new website that focuses on coping with heart complaints and living well for your heart. She has recently compiled a report that answers the most frequently asked questions about stroke. You can download a free copy of that report when you visit http://healthyheartreview.com or click here