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A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood
vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding the
brain cells. The symptoms of stroke are easy to spot: sudden numbness or
weakness, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion or trouble
speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
sudden trouble walking; dizziness; or loss of balance or coordination. Brain
cells die when they no longer receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood or
when they are damaged by sudden bleeding into or around the brain. These
damaged cells can linger in a compromised state for several hours. With
timely treatment, these cells can be saved. Stroke is diagnosed through
several techniques: a short neurological examination, blood tests, CT scans,
MRI scans, Doppler ultrasound, and arteriography. Stroke seems to run in
some families. Family members may have a genetic tendency for stroke or
share a lifestyle that contributes to stroke. The most important risk
factors for stroke are hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and cigarette
smoking.
(Definition from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke)
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