Health Information

Stroke

What is it?

A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function. It is caused by the interruption of the flow of blood to the brain (an ischemic stroke) or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain (a hemorrhagic stroke). The interruption of the blood flow or the rupture of blood vessels causes brain cells (neurons) in the affected area to die. The effects of a stroke depend upon where the brain was injured, as well as how much damage occurred.

As the brain controls everything we say, do and think, a stroke can have a wide variety of effects. A stroke can affect your:

• Ability to move and coordinate movement
• Ability to feel touch, temperature, pain and movement
• Ability to see or to interpret what you see
• Ability to think, to remember, understand, plan, reason or problem-solve
• Ability to communicate (speaking and understanding speech, as well as reading, writing and the ability to do mathematics)
• Personality
• Emotions
• Behaviour

(What is a stroke? Retrieved May 4, 2004 from the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada)

UHN Resources

UHN Brochures & Pamphlets

• Stroke Education Class

UHN Clinics or Centres

• Stroke Prevention Clinic

Related Web Sites

• Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada
  Click on “Heart Disease”, “Stroke”, and “Healthy Living” for patient education information.
• Stroke Recovery Association of Ontario
  Provides general information on stroke for stroke patients and their families. Includes sections on the impact of stroke on the family, aphasia, help for caregivers, emotional and behavioural changes after stroke, and links to other stroke related web sites.
• Prevent Stroke Ontario
  Developed for health providers across Ontario seeking local and provincial programs and services to prevent stroke.
• American Stroke Association
  Information on stroke: risks, symptoms, treatment, and more. 
• British Heart Foundation
  Click on “Hearthealth” icon to find valuable information about heart disease and related issues.
• Heart Information Network
  Provides a wide range of information to heart patients and others interested in learning about lowering risk factors for heart disease.
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  Stroke Information with links to related organizations and publications; news releases and research.
• National Stroke Association (US)
  Provides information on types of stroke, risk factors, effects of stroke, recovery and rehabilitation, treatment, and research. Also includes stroke prevention guidelines and a stroke glossary.