Stroke facts for kids

A stroke is a serious medical event that damages part of the brain. It happens when the brain doesn't get enough blood. This can be because a blood vessel carrying blood to the brain gets blocked, or because it breaks and leaks.

Think of a stroke as a "brain attack," similar to a heart attack. A heart attack happens when the heart doesn't get enough blood. A stroke is when the brain doesn't get enough blood.

There are two main types of strokes:

• Ischemic stroke: This is the most common type. It happens when a blood clot blocks an artery that carries blood to the brain. Arteries are like tubes that deliver blood all over your body.
• Hemorrhagic stroke: This type happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. This causes blood to spill into the brain, which can damage brain cells.

When a stroke happens, the affected part of the brain can't work properly. This can lead to different problems. For example, someone might not be able to move one side of their body. They might also have trouble understanding or using language. Sometimes, they can't see things on one side of their vision.

A stroke is a medical emergency. It can cause lasting damage to the brain. If it's not treated quickly, it can even lead to death. Strokes are a major cause of disability for adults in many parts of the world.

Strokes can happen on either the left or right side of the brain.

• If a stroke affects the left side of the brain, it usually affects the right side of the body. It can also cause problems with speaking and understanding language.
• If a stroke affects the right side of the brain, it usually affects the left side of the body. It can also change how someone understands space around them. People with a right-sided stroke might not realize they are ill or might act impulsively.

Some things can increase the chance of having a stroke. These include getting older, having high blood pressure, or having had a stroke before. Other risk factors are diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking. High blood pressure and smoking are two of the easiest risk factors to control.

How to Spot a Stroke

It's very important to recognize the signs of a stroke quickly. The faster someone gets help, the better their chances of recovery.

Recognizing Stroke Signs

Medical professionals often use a simple test to check for a stroke. It looks at three basic signs. If any of these signs are not normal, the person might be having a stroke. They should get to a hospital right away.

• Face Droop: Ask the person to smile or show their teeth.
  • Normal: Both sides of their face move the same way.
  • Abnormal: One side of their face doesn't move well, or it looks like it's drooping.
• Arm Drift: Ask the person to close their eyes and hold their arms straight out for about 10 seconds.
  • Normal: Both arms stay up or move the same way.
  • Abnormal: One arm drifts down compared to the other, or doesn't move at all.
• Speech: Ask the person to say a simple, well-known sentence, like "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
  • Normal: The person uses the correct words and doesn't slur.
  • Abnormal: Their speech is slurred, they use wrong words, or they can't speak.

If someone can't do one of these tasks normally, there's a good chance they are having a stroke. If they can't do all three, it's very likely they are having a stroke.

The FAST Test

The "Spot a Stroke" campaign helps everyone remember the main signs of a stroke. It uses the easy-to-remember word FAST:

• F: Face - Does one side of the face droop or feel numb? Ask the person to smile. Is their smile uneven?
• A: Arm - Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• S: Speech - Is their speech slurred? Are they unable to speak, or hard to understand? Ask them to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Do they repeat it correctly?
• T: Time - If you see any of these symptoms, even if they go away, call 9-1-1 (or your local emergency number) right away! Note the time when the symptoms first started. This information is very important for doctors.

At the Hospital

Once someone with stroke symptoms arrives at the hospital, doctors use special scanning machines. These include MRI or CT scanner machines. These scans help doctors see inside the brain to confirm if it's a stroke and what type it is.

Preventing Strokes

Strokes can be very serious, but there are ways to lower your risk. Doctors suggest these steps to help prevent a stroke:

• Keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.
• Do not smoke.
• Get regular exercise, at least once a week.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Do not drink too much alcohol.
• Have regular checkups with your doctor.

Stroke Facts and Figures

Here are some facts about strokes:

• About 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year.
• Sadly, about one out of every four people who have a stroke die from it.
• Currently, about 3 million people in the U.S. live with disabilities caused by strokes.
• Strokes cost a lot of money each year due to medical care and lost work.
• Most strokes (about two-thirds) happen in people aged 65 and older.
• Strokes affect men more often than women.
• However, women are more likely to die from a stroke than men.
• Strokes are more common and more likely to be deadly in African Americans.
• While stroke rates are going down for older adults, they are rising in younger people. Scientists think this might be linked to rising rates of obesity.
• Physical therapy can help people recover after a stroke.
• Some people may need to use a wheelchair after a stroke.
• About 10% of stroke survivors have no long-term disabilities.
• About 10% of survivors have so many disabilities that they need 24-hour care.

See also

In Spanish: Accidente cerebrovascular para niños