A stroke, by medical definition, is when the blood flow to ones brain is cut off causing sudden death to the brain cells from lack of oxygen (MedicineNet.com, 2016). This can occur because of a blockage to an artery or because an artery ruptured. If not caught early then major brain and nerve damage can occur.

The medical term for a stroke is cerebrovascular accident, abbreviated as CVA (What is a Stroke, 2016). There are also different types of strokes such as Ischemic strokes, which include Thrombotic strokes, when an artery is blocked because of a blood clot, and Embolic strokes, when a blood clot formed in another part of the body and then moved to the brain.

Ischemic strokes also include Hemorrhagic strokes, including an Intracerebral hemorrhage, when a blood vessel in the brain burst mixing with the brain fluid, and Subarachnoid hemorrhage, when an artery on or near the surface or ones brain bursts spilling between the space between one brain and skull . There is also a Transient Ischemic Attack, or TIA, which is known as a ministroke; it is when one is showing symptoms similar to a stroke after a temporary decrease of blood to the brain (What is a Stroke, 2016).

There are multiple symptoms of a stroke that can come one at a time or sometimes all at once and they include: trouble speaking or understanding what is being said to them, paralysis or numbness to ones face, arms or legs, drooping to ones face, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, and major headaches or trouble walking (The Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016).

The treatment of a stroke depends on the type of stroke. An Ischemic stroke is treated with emergency medications such as aspirin or intravenous injection of tissue plasminogen activator, TPA. These medicines need to be delivered directly to the brain and surgical procedures to remove the clot could be required. If those actions do not work then a carotid endarterectomy or angioplasty and stents might be required.

For a Hemorrhagic stroke there needs to be immediate repair of the blood vessel by surgical clipping, coiling, surgical AVM removal, an intracranial bypass or stereotactic radiosurgery. After a stroke the patient could have an extensive recovery that may or may not include rehibilitation in physical activities, speech and much more(The Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016).

The Mayo Clinic Staff, . (2016). Stroke. In Mayo Clinic. Retrieved November 15, 2016, from

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20117296

Definition of a Stroke (2016). In MedicineNet.com. Retrieved November 15, 2016, from

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9791

What is a Stroke (2016). In Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago . Retrieved November 15, 2016,

from http://www.ric.org/conditions/stroke/what-is-a-stroke/