Stroke
<p >A <b>stroke</b>, or <b>cerebrovascular accident</b> (<b>CVA</b>), is the rapid loss of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain" title="Brain" >brain</a> function(s) due to disturbance in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_supply" title="Blood supply" class="mw-redirect" >blood supply</a> to the brain. This can be due to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ischemia" title="Ischemia" >ischemia</a> (lack of blood flow) caused by blockage (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrombosis" title="Thrombosis" >thrombosis</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arterial_embolism" title="Arterial embolism" >arterial embolism</a>), or a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemorrhage" title="Hemorrhage" class="mw-redirect" >hemorrhage</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke#cite_note-0" >[1]</a></sup> As a result, the affected area of the brain cannot function, which might result in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemiplegia" title="Hemiplegia" >an inability to move one or more limbs on one side of the body</a>, inability to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receptive_aphasia" title="Receptive aphasia" >understand</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressive_aphasia" title="Expressive aphasia" >formulate</a> speech, or<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homonymous_hemianopsia" title="Homonymous hemianopsia" >an inability to see one side of the visual field</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Donnan_1-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke#cite_note-Donnan-1" >[2]</a></sup>
A stroke is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_emergency" title="Medical emergency" >medical emergency</a> and can cause permanent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurological" title="Neurological" class="mw-redirect" >neurological</a> damage, complications, and death. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_factor" title="Risk factor" >Risk factors</a> for stroke include <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_age" title="Old age" >old age</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertension" title="Hypertension" >hypertension</a> (high blood pressure), previous stroke or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient_ischemic_attack" title="Transient ischemic attack" >transient ischemic attack</a> (TIA), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus" title="Diabetes mellitus" >diabetes</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypercholesterolemia" title="Hypercholesterolemia" >high cholesterol</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_smoking" title="Tobacco smoking" >cigarette smoking</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrial_fibrillation" title="Atrial fibrillation" >atrial fibrillation</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Donnan_1-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke#cite_note-Donnan-1" >[2]</a></sup> High blood pressure is the most important modifiable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_factor" title="Risk factor" >risk factor</a> of stroke.<sup id="cite_ref-Donnan_1-2" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke#cite_note-Donnan-1" >[2]</a></sup> It is the second leading cause of death worldwide.<sup id="cite_ref-Mathers2009_2-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke#cite_note-Mathers2009-2" >[3]</a></sup></p>