Stroke

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

A sudden disruption of blood supply to part of the brain, either due to a blocked artery (ischaemic stroke, accounting for about 87% of cases) or a ruptured blood vessel causing bleeding into or around the brain (haemorrhagic stroke); strokes cause rapid neuronal death and can result in permanent disability affecting movement, speech, vision, cognition, and behaviour; also known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

Examples

• Using the FAST acronym — Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 999 — she recognised her father's stroke and called for help immediately.
• Every minute during a stroke approximately 1.9 million neurons are lost, making rapid treatment essential to minimise damage.

Synonyms: cerebrovascular accident, CVA, brain attack, cerebral infarction