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IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW SHOULD EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF STROKE, SEEK EMERGENCY HELP IMMEDIATELY - CALL 911 - DO NOT WAIT!
Imaging scan showing stroke-affected brain tissue in green
What Is a Stroke?
The brain requires a continuous supply of oxygen. A stroke (also known as a cerebrovascular accident or CVA) occurs when the blood supply, which carries oxygen to your brain, is cut off due to blocked or burst blood vessels. When the oxygen supply is cut off, brain cells begin to die.
A stroke is a very serious condition. You can minimize long-term damage caused by stroke by seeking emergency medical assistance, as soon as possible.
Types of Stroke
Strokes fall into several major categories, based on whether the disrupted blood supply is caused by a blocked blood vessel (ischemic stroke) or a hemorrhage.
Each type of stroke requires a different type of treatment, so it is important to determine the cause and location of a stroke quickly.
Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)
About one-third of all strokes are preceded by one or more "mini-strokes," known as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). TIAs can occur days, weeks, or even months before a stroke.
TIAs are caused by temporary interruptions in the blood supply to your brain. The symptoms occur rapidly and last a relatively short time, usually from a few minutes to several hours, always with complete recovery within 24 hours.
Stroke Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of stroke commonly subside or go away. The best chance for optimal recovery after a stroke is to seek medical attention as soon as the first warning signs appear.
Learn more about stroke symptoms.
Learn more about how stroke awareness can save your life or the life of a loved one.
Diagnosing a Stroke
The ability to quickly pinpoint the precise location of a stroke and understand the extent of the damage is critical in determining the best treatment options.
The Stanford Stroke Center is one of the most advanced diagnostic centers in the world, with over a dozen highly sensitive tools to help determine and diagnose a stroke. These include:
Learn more about stroke diagnosis.
Stroke Treatment Options
There are both surgical and non-surgical options to treat stroke, including innovative interventional neuroradiology procedures. Treatment for stroke may include:
Learn more about stroke treatment.
Condition Spotlight
Clinical Trials for Stroke
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.
Our Clinic
The Stanford Stroke Center is a pioneer in using the latest surgical techniques and innovative therapies to rapidly treat individuals experiencing a stroke.
Stroke
A stroke is an interruption of blood flow to a specific part of the brain and can be fatal if not treated quickly. Learn more from Stanford Health Care.
Stroke
What Is a Stroke
stroke symptoms
signs of a stroke
stroke signs
stroke recovery
stroke treatment
stroke symptoms in women
stroke warning signs
types of strokes
stroke symptoms in men
stroke causes
stroke risk factors
stroke rehabilitation
stroke types
stroke diagnosis
stroke indicators
stroke treatments