Many of us know someone that has been affected by a stroke. They can be life-threatening, and they often seem to happen without any warning — that can be scary. But what is a stroke exactly? And can it be prevented?
The Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, a part of the American Physical Therapy Association, explains that a stroke is when the brain is not getting enough blood (and oxygen). This can happen in a couple of ways: Because there is a blood clot in the arteries that flow to the brain (an ischemic stroke) or there is a hole in the blood vessels leading to the brain, and the blood is leaking out and not getting to the brain (a hemorrhagic stroke).