A stroke is a medical emergency which occurs when something blocks off the blood supply to part of the brain, or when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. If either of these happens, that part of the brain becomes damaged and can die. A stroke can lead to disability, long lasting brain damage and even death.
You can spot a stroke by noticing the following main signs: weakness, numbness or drooping in the arm, leg or face, especially on the left-hand side of the body. Slurred speech, difficulty understanding speech and trouble seeing in one or both of the eyes.
Some of the factors that increase the risk of having a stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, heart disease, high red blood count, high cholesterol, obesity and more.
